Katz says Israel will not withdraw from Beaufort Castle

Israeli defence minister Yisrael Katz has said Israel has no intention of withdrawing from Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, describing the site as a key component of what he called Israel's security zone along the northern frontier.

In a statement, Katz said: "Israel has no intention of withdrawing from Beaufort (Shaqif Castle), which is an integral part of the security zone in Lebanon."

He said that the strategic hilltop position serves as an important defensive point for communities in northern Israel and for Israeli forces deployed on the northern front.