Official announcements from the Israeli Defense Forces or international news agencies

Netanyahu in Golan Heights Hails Assad's Fall, Vows to Block Hostile Forces at Border

Dec 8, 2024, 02:35 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime as a 'historic day' for the Middle East during a visit to the Golan Heights on the Israel-Syria border. In the first official Israeli response following Assad's ousting, Netanyahu attributed the collapse of Assad's 14-year rule to Israel's military actions against Iran and Hezbollah, calling it a direct result of the 'blows we inflicted' on these groups. He emphasized that the demise of the Assad regime, which he described as a central link in Iran's 'axis of evil,' opens up new opportunities for Israel but also presents significant risks, warning that chaos could spill over the border. Netanyahu declared that Israel would not permit any hostile forces to establish themselves along its borders and extended a hand of peace to neighboring communities, including the Druze.