Netanyahu visited Syria once again, and the message given by the Defense Minister drew attention.

A written statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Press Office indicated that Netanyahu conducted a "situation assessment" on Mount Hermon, located in the buffer zone occupied after December 7 in Syria. It was stated that Netanyahu was accompanied by some officials, including Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. It was noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu reviewed the deployment of the Israeli army in the occupied area.

KATZ STATED THAT THE OCCUPATION IN THE BUFFER ZONE WILL CONTINUE

Defense Minister Katz made evaluations on Mount Hermon, where he went with Netanyahu. Katz defended the occupation by claiming that Israeli soldiers were present on Mount Hermon to protect the illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied Syrian territory of the Golan Heights. Katz asserted that the occupation "strengthened Israel's security" and was "deterrent" against groups that overthrew the Baath regime in Syria, stating, "We will stay here (in the area occupied after December 7 on Mount Hermon) as long as needed."

Katz had stated in a statement on December 13 that he had instructed the Israeli army to remain in the area occupied on Mount Hermon after December 7 during the winter months.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Following the intensifying clashes in Syria on November 27, coinciding with the collapse of the 61-year-old Baath regime on December 8, the Israeli army increased its attacks on Syria. The Israeli army, which began to destroy the remaining military infrastructure and capabilities of the regime army, expanded its occupation in the Golan Heights, which is Syrian territory. The Israeli army, which entered the buffer zone around the Golan Heights, advanced the occupation further, reaching as close as 25 kilometers to the capital Damascus. Israel has been occupying the Golan Heights, which belong to Syria, since 1967. The borders of the buffer zone and the demilitarized zone were determined by the Forces Withdrawal Agreement signed between Israel and Syria in 1974.