JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the nation will prevent the new Syrian military and insurgent groups, which played a role in the removal of former President Bashar Assad, from accessing the territory south of Damascus. This statement reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to maintaining its presence in various sections of southern Syria for an indefinite duration, signaling a determination to uphold security in the region.
Netanyahu made these remarks during a military graduation ceremony, which generated significant apprehension regarding Israel’s influence over southern Syria as the new leadership in Damascus strives to reestablish authority following years of civil unrest.
“We will not permit HTS forces or the new Syrian army to gain entry to the area south of Damascus,” Netanyahu stated, referencing the current Syrian authorities and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the primary former rebel faction.
He also emphasized the necessity for a complete demilitarization of southern Syria, specifically in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Suwayda, from the newly established regime’s forces. Additionally, Netanyahu expressed that any potential threat to the Druze community residing in southern Syria would not be tolerated.
No response was immediately forthcoming from the Syrian government regarding these assertions.
Defense Minister Israel Katz elaborated that Israeli troops will continue to hold positions on Mt. Hermon in southern Syria and within a defined buffer zone indefinitely, with the aim of safeguarding local populations and eliminating any threats.
Katz noted that Israeli forces have established two posts on Mt. Hermon and seven others within the buffer zone to bolster both defensive and offensive capacities against possible challenges.
After Assad’s government fell in December, Israel took control of the United Nations-monitored buffer zone in Syrian territory, which had been established through a ceasefire agreement in 1974. The new Syrian authorities and U.N. representatives have since called for Israeli withdrawal from this area.
Furthermore, Netanyahu’s administration faces growing pressure to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens living near the northern border. Katz mentioned plans to “enhance relations with friendly populations in the region,” particularly the Druze community that spans both southern Syria and the Golan Heights in Israel, where deference to their Syrian heritage occurs while living under Israeli administration.
Netanyahu reiterated that no threats to the Druze community in southern Syria would be accommodated. He added that Israeli forces would actively obstruct the establishment of any hostile entities within the security zone extending from southern Syria to Damascus, committing to take action against any identified threats.
