Netanyahu Confirms Ongoing Israeli Military Presence at Mount Hermon and Syrian Buffer Zone
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Synopsis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel will keep a military presence at Mount Hermon and the buffer zone indefinitely. He urged Syria to demilitarize southern regions and warned against militant group incursions.
Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu confirms indefinite Israeli military presence.
- Call for Syrian demilitarization of southern provinces.
- Warning against militant infiltration from Syria.
- Buffer zone monitored by UN forces.
- Lebanese President seeks US support for army.
Jerusalem, February 24 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will sustain an indefinite military presence at the summit of Mount Hermon and within the buffer zone along the border with Syria.
The Israel Defense Forces will continue to be stationed at the summit of Mount Hermon and the buffer zone for an indefinite period to safeguard our settlements and neutralize any potential threats, stated Netanyahu during a graduation ceremony for officers in Holon, located south of Tel Aviv, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Netanyahu urged the new Syrian administration to undertake a comprehensive demilitarization of southern Syria, particularly in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and As-Suwayda.
He further cautioned that Israel would not allow forces linked to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a militant faction led by Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, or the new Syrian army to infiltrate the territory south of Damascus.
In December, subsequent to the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Israel deployed ground troops into the buffer zone, which is a demilitarized area between the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and Syria.
The buffer zone is overseen by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), established under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Israel subsequently took control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
Earlier in February, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun appealed to the US for continued support to the Lebanese army with necessary equipment and resources to fulfill its national security responsibilities, especially in southern Lebanon.
During a discussion with a US congressional delegation headed by Congressman Darrell Issa in Beirut, Aoun also urged Washington to exert pressure on Israel to finalize its withdrawal from the five remaining sites it occupies in southern Lebanon, according to a statement released by the Lebanese presidency.
