Official announcements from the Israeli government or credible news agencies

Netanyahu Announces Fall of Assad Regime, Credits Strikes on Iran and Hezbollah

Dec 8, 2024, 01:41 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, declaring it a historic day for the Middle East. During a visit to the Syrian border in the Golan Heights, Netanyahu described Assad's regime as a 'central link in Iran's axis of evil' and attributed its collapse to Israel's military actions against Iran and Hezbollah, Assad's main supporters. He stated that this development creates new, very important opportunities for Israel but also carries significant risks. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel will not allow any hostile forces to establish themselves near its borders and added that the collapse has set off a 'chain reaction' among those wishing to free themselves from tyranny in Damascus. The Prime Minister indicated that Israel has taken control of a buffer zone as a 50-year deal has collapsed.