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Netanyahu Enters Syrian Territory for First Time, Vows to Keep Troops in 400 sq km UN Buffer Zone

Dec 17, 2024, 05:39 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, a strategic location within a UN buffer zone seized by Israel following the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, and other senior officials, Netanyahu reviewed the deployment of Israeli forces in the area. He stated that Israeli troops would remain in the buffer zone, which spans about 400 square kilometers in Syrian territory, specifically on the summit of Mount Hermon, 'until another arrangement is found that will ensure Israel's security.' This visit marks the first time a sitting Israeli leader has entered Syrian territory since the fall of Assad. The buffer zone was established by the UN after the 1973 Mideast war. Israel's control over this area has drawn international criticism, with some accusing Israel of exploiting the chaos in Syria to expand its territory.