Netanyahu Declares Israeli Forces to Stay in Syrian Buffer Zone Near Golan Heights Until Security Ensured

Dec 18, 2024, 03:43 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israeli forces will remain in a buffer zone on the Syrian border until another arrangement is found that ensures Israel's security. This statement was made from the summit of Mount Hermon in Syria, about 10 kilometers from the border with the Israeli-held Golan Heights. Netanyahu's visit to the area, which he described as strategically important, marks the first time a sitting Israeli leader has ventured that far into Syrian territory. The move follows the recent ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad, after which Israeli forces occupied the demilitarized zone between Syria and the Golan Heights, a zone created by the U.N. after the 1973 Mideast war and patrolled by a U.N. force of about 1,100 troops. The occupation has been criticized internationally as a violation of a 1974 ceasefire agreement, with the United Nations calling for the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Defense Minister Israel Katz has also been involved in these developments, emphasizing the strategic importance of the area. The group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the ouster of Assad, has not yet commented on the situation.