Official statements from the Israeli government or the United Nations

IDF Enters UN Buffer Zone in Syria, Raises Flag in Al-Khadr

Dec 11, 2024, 01:14 PM

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have advanced into southern Syria, crossing the border from the Golan Heights into a previously demilitarized buffer zone within the UN Disengagement Observer Force Zone. IDF troops have raised the Israeli flag over the town of al-Khadr in Syria, signaling a significant incursion into Syrian territory. This operation aims to ensure that armed groups, including factions of the Syrian opposition and Al-Qaeda, do not control the area, according to an IDF spokesperson. The IDF's presence in the region, which includes the capture of a Syrian Arab Army T-55 AMV Tank in Quneitra, is part of a broader strategy to prevent attacks against Israel and its citizens. The duration of the IDF's stay in the buffer zone remains uncertain and subject to political decisions.