**JERUSALEM** — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that Israel will prevent the newly formed Syrian army and the insurgent group responsible for the removal of former President Bashar Assad from entering the area south of Damascus. During a military graduation ceremony, Netanyahu emphasized that Israeli forces would maintain their presence in certain regions of southern Syria for an indefinite duration.
Netanyahu’s remarks have heightened worries regarding the Israeli military’s influence in southern Syria, particularly as new leadership in Damascus strives to reassert control following years of civil conflict. “We will not allow HTS forces or the new Syrian army to access the area south of Damascus,” Netanyahu stated, highlighting both the new authorities in Syria and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a significant former rebel faction.
The Prime Minister demanded that southern Syria, particularly the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Suwayda, be completely demilitarized in relation to the forces of the new regime. He also declared that Israel would not tolerate any potential threats to the Druze community residing in southern Syria. Syrian officials did not issue an immediate response to these comments.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz supported Netanyahu’s stance, confirming that Israeli troops would remain stationed at the summit of Mt. Hermon in southern Syria and within a buffer zone indefinitely to safeguard local communities and counter any emerging threats. He noted that Israeli forces have established two military posts on the mountain along with an additional seven within the buffer zone to bolster both defense and offensive capabilities.
Following Assad’s fall in December, Israel took control of a U.N.-monitored buffer zone within Syrian territory, a zone that was created under a ceasefire agreement established in 1974. The new Syrian authorities, along with U.N. representatives, have urged for Israel’s withdrawal from the area.
Netanyahu’s administration faces increasing pressure to ensure the safety of Israeli residents living near border regions in the north. Katz noted the intention to enhance relations with friendly populations in the vicinity, particularly the Druze, a religious minority found in both southern Syria and Israel’s Golan Heights, where they navigate their historically Syrian roots while existing under Israeli administration.
“We will not tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria,” reiterated Netanyahu. On a broader scale, Katz stated that Israeli forces would not permit hostile entities to establish a presence within the security zone extending from southern Syria to Damascus, committing to take action against any threats that may arise.
