26.08.2026 09:10
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz visited the area under Israeli occupation in southern Syria and made statements that will raise tensions. Challenging the Syrian administration and President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Katz also described Turkey's presence in the region as a threat to Israel's interests and announced they would not withdraw from the territories they occupy.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, attempting to legitimize the Israeli army's occupation position on the Syrian border, directly targeted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkey in his statements in the region.
Claiming that threats against the state of Israel continue, Katz argued that as long as these security concerns persist, they will absolutely not leave Mount Hermon and other areas they hold under occupation. Katz addressed President al-Sharaa, making an open provocation by stating that when he wakes up in his palace in Damascus and looks at Mount Hermon, he will see the Israeli army and know they are there to protect their borders.
STATEMENTS TARGETING TURKEY
The Damascus administration was not the only target of Katz's statements. The Israeli Minister also included Turkey's activities and attempts to establish a presence in Syrian territory on his agenda, using arrogant expressions. Katz claimed that Turkey's steps in the region jeopardize Israel's national security interests, asserting that they will not remain indifferent to this situation and will continue to maintain their current military positions at all costs.
IDLIB ATTACK RAISED TENSIONS
The Defense Minister's provocative statements became even more striking as they coincided with the immediate aftermath of Israel's latest military operations in the region. As is known, on August 18, Israeli warplanes carried out a severe airstrike on the dormant Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Syria's Idlib province. Following this move, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an unjustified and dangerous escalation threatening regional security. Reactions from the international community to Israel's aggressive stance were not delayed either; United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone intervened, reacting to the Abu al-Duhur attack and calling on Israel to urgently respect Syria's territorial integrity.