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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the full demilitarization of Syria’s southern region, in a move that could lead to a confrontation with the country’s transitional government.
Following the fall of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) invaded the buffer zone adjacent to the occupied Golan Heights and launched hundreds of strikes against the bases and equipment of the now dissolved Syrian Arab Army.
Speaking to cadets graduating from the IDF Ground Forces combat officers course on February 23, Netanyahu said that Israeli troops will stay on the Syrian Hermon and the buffer zone in the Golan Heights for “an unlimited period of time… We will not allow HTS [Hayat Tahrir al-Sham] forces or the new Syrian army to move into territory south of Damascus,” he insisted.
“We demand full demilitarization of southern Syria from troops of the new Syrian regime in the Quneitra, Daraa and al-Suweyda provinces,” the primer said, adding that Israel will not accept any threats to Druze in southern Syria.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed while attending the same ceremony that the IDF had constructed at least nine posts inside Syria.
“[The IDF] built two proper posts atop the summit of Mount Hermon and seven posts in the buffer zone to ensure defense and offense against any challenge,” he said, noting that Israeli troops will remain in the posts “indefinitely.”
The Syrian transitional government, which was appointed by HTS before the group dissolved itself, has condemned IDF operations in the country more than once. Nevertheless, it has so far refrained from challenging Israel in any way, likely due to the fragile situation of the country.
Netanyahu’s demand poses a serious challenge to the government as it will weaken the influence of Damascus in southern Syria, especially in al-Suweyda where local Druze forces are in control.
A decision to challenge the Israeli demand may be very risky. However, leaving the south outside the control of the government could mark the beginning of the collapse of Syria as a unified state. In either case, the country appears to be heading to a costly confrontation with Israel.
just itching for it aren’t you smart boy ?
normal zionist/trumpist reward for cooperation -you’ve given us lots, now we want everything. note too that these demands go further than russia was demanding of the ukraine – but don’t expect the western media to say so.
israel will be key country in nato 2.0 together with cyprus.
trump last month said i will get back usa from nato 1.0. promises made promises done. trump will kick out turkey and erdogan from nato 2.0.
erdogan said i will send turkish army to israel to invade it. this was the red line for usa, plus hamas, hizbullah propaganda maded by erdogan non stop trump decided to fix it.
incirli will be closed and new bases will be deployed in israel and in cyprus by nato 2.0. this is why trumps says make nato great again. pete hegseth secretery of defence said the same at germany. turkey will be replaced with cyprus and israel.