Reports from international news agencies or official military statements from Israel

Netanyahu at Golan Heights: Assad's Fall a 'Historic Day,' Result of Israel's Strikes on Iran, Hezbollah

Dec 8, 2024, 01:19 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Golan Heights near the Syrian border and declared that the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime marks a historic day in the Middle East. Netanyahu described Assad's government as 'a central link in Iran's axis of evil' and stated that its collapse is 'a direct result of the blows we inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, Assad's main supporters.' He added that this has 'set off a chain reaction of all those who want to free themselves from this tyranny and its oppression.' He emphasized that the demise of the regime creates 'new, very important opportunities' for Israel but also comes with significant risks. Netanyahu affirmed that Israel will not allow any hostile forces to establish themselves along its borders, noting that a 50-year deal has 'collapsed,' allowing Israel to take a buffer zone.