Israel Katz said on Monday that Israel intends to remain “indefinitely” in areas it currently controls in Lebanon, as well as parts of Syria and the Gaza Strip.

His remarks came shortly after the announcement of the interim US-Iran deal, which is due to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.

The agreement, however, has yet to be implemented and already faces significant hurdles.

Iran has indicated that it will not begin enforcing the deal until it is formally signed, while Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon continue to threaten the ceasefire framework.

Israel also intensified its rhetoric, with Katz warning that any Iranian response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon would be met with “great force.”

Over the past 2½ years, Israel has taken control of roughly 1,000 square kilometres of territory across Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, according to estimates.