Israel won’t allow Syria military forces south of Damascus: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel will not allow the newly formed Syrian government's military forces to operate in Syrian territory south of Damascus. This statement demonstrates Israel's continued concern about the situation in Syria and its consideration of its own security.

Speaking at a military ceremony in Israel on Sunday, Netanyahu demanded the "complete demilitarization of the new Syrian regime forces in southern Syria, namely the Quneitra, Daraa, and Suweida provinces." He emphasized that Israel would not tolerate any actions that threaten the security of its northern border.

Netanyahu also stated, "We will not allow the HTS organization or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus." He was referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the offensive that overthrew Syria's long-time leader, President Bashar al-Assad, last December. Furthermore, he warned that Israel would not accept any threats to the Syrian Druze community, who reside in the Israeli-occupied Syrian territory of the Golan Heights and other areas of southwestern Syria.

Following Assad's downfall, Israel took the opportunity to expand the buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Syria, violating the 1974 UN-brokered agreement. Druze are a religious minority group in several countries in the region. In Syria, many have expressed opposition to Israel's expansion into the country's southwest, and thousands living in the occupied Golan Heights refuse to accept Israeli citizenship. However, in Israel, most Druze support the State of Israel, and men are conscripted into the military.

Israel occupies about two-thirds of the Golan Heights, with a UN-administered buffer zone spanning a narrow 400 square kilometer (154 square mile) area. The remainder is controlled by Syria. In 1974, Israel and Syria reached a ceasefire agreement stipulating that the Golan Heights would become a demilitarized buffer zone. However, shortly after Assad's downfall last December, the Israeli military entered the buffer zone and conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Syrian military assets. Israel has for years justified its attacks on Syria by claiming to eliminate Iranian military targets. However, Iran has stated that it currently has no troops in Syria, and the new Syrian government has indicated that it does not wish to engage in combat with Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that Israeli forces have now established two outposts on Mount Hermon in Syria and seven other outposts within the buffer zone. Netanyahu stated on Sunday that Israeli forces would remain indefinitely on Mount Hermon and in the buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights "to protect our communities and deter any threats."