Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Wednesday that his government does not believe Hezbollah will voluntarily disarm, signaling that Israel could take military action in Lebanon if the group fails to comply.

Speaking to Israel’s Channel 7, Katz said Washington has set a deadline for Hezbollah to relinquish its weapons by the end of the year.

“The Americans demanded that Hezbollah disarm by the end of the year, but I do not see that happening,” he said.

Katz added that “if it does not disarm by year’s end, we will act forcefully once again in Lebanon,” underscoring Israel’s readiness to use military measures should Hezbollah ignore the disarmament call.

The defense minister also criticized the maritime border agreement between Israel and Lebanon, saying it contains “weaknesses and problematic issues” that Israel plans to revisit with Beirut.

Katz further emphasized that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from strategic positions in the region.

“We will not retreat from Mount Hermon and will not leave Syria,” he said, highlighting Israel’s commitment to maintaining its security posture across its northern and eastern frontiers.