Netanyahu: Israeli Forces to Stay in 400 sq km Syrian Buffer Zone at Mount Hermon Until New Security Deal

Dec 17, 2024, 05:50 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israeli forces will maintain their presence in a buffer zone on the Syrian border, specifically at the summit of Mount Hermon, until a new arrangement can be established to ensure Israel's security. This statement was made during a situational assessment at the Hermon Ridge, attended by senior defense officials including Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Northern Command chief Ori Gordin, and head of the Shin Bet Ronen Bar. Netanyahu, who was on the summit 53 years ago as a soldier, visited the Syrian side of Mount Hermon for the first time as a sitting Israeli leader. The buffer zone, which spans approximately 400 square kilometers, was seized by Israel following the ousting of Syrian President Bashar Assad by rebels. The move has drawn international criticism, with accusations of Israel violating a 1974 ceasefire agreement and possibly exploiting the Syrian conflict for territorial gains. The buffer zone was originally established by the UN after the 1973 Mideast war and has been patrolled by about 1,100 UN troops. Israel still controls the Golan Heights, which it annexed from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war, a move recognized only by the United States.