29.01.2025 00:40
The new president of the United States, Donald Trump, has decided to withdraw U.S. troops from Syrian territory. The claim comes from Israeli media, and it has been reported that the Israeli government is concerned about this decision, especially in light of the fall of the Assad regime and Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights.
According to a report in the Israeli media, U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw U.S. troops stationed in Syria.
"TRUMP DECIDED TO WITHDRAW U.S. TROOPS FROM SYRIA"
The report on Israeli state television KAN stated that unnamed senior officials from the White House conveyed a message to Tel Aviv regarding the situation of U.S. troops in Syria. It was claimed that the message of Trump's intention to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria was communicated to the Israeli government. The possibility of the U.S. President withdrawing troops from Syria has raised concerns and anxiety in Israel.
The report also mentioned that the withdrawal of U.S. troops would also affect the terrorist organization PKK/YPG in Syria. No statement has yet been made by the Israeli government regarding KAN's report.
ISRAELI ARMY EXPANDS OCCUPATION OF SYRIAN TERRITORY IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS
The Israeli army shared images of the "temporary" military outposts it established on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, which it has expanded its occupation following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.
In a statement from the army, it was noted that insulated structures have been built for Israeli troops to shelter in harsh winter conditions, and generators, heaters, and winter military clothing have been transported to the region. The Israeli army began occupying the Golan Heights and the buffer zone under Syria's protection on December 8, when the Bashar al-Assad regime collapsed, violating the international agreement between Syria and Israel.
Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced that he had instructed the army to remain on Mount Hermon during the winter months. The Israeli Minister claimed that this step was taken to protect the Israeli settlements built in the occupied areas of the Golan Heights.
THE PROCESS LEADING TO OCCUPATION BEGAN IN 1967
The Israeli occupation of the strategically important Golan Heights began in 1967. The Israeli army occupied the Golan Heights, as well as the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Sinai, during the conflict known as the "Six-Day War," which started on June 5, 1967. In the 1973 conflict known as the "Yom Kippur War," which was coordinated with Egypt, Syria attempted to liberate the Golan Heights from Israeli occupation but was unsuccessful.
A Forces Withdrawal Agreement was signed between Tel Aviv and Damascus on June 5, 1974. With this agreement, Israel accepted to withdraw from the Syrian territories it occupied during the Yom Kippur War, while continuing to remain in the Golan Heights, which it occupied in 1967. Not wanting to leave the region due to its strategic importance, Israel unilaterally declared the annexation of the Golan Heights in 1981, but the international community, except for the U.S., has not recognized this decision to this day.
Many attempts have been made to resolve the issue in the Golan Heights, but all have failed. One of them was conducted in 2000 with U.S. mediation. Negotiations initiated with the aim of returning the Golan Heights to Syria ended in failure. The reason for the failure of the talks was Israel's unwillingness to concede a piece of land that is a key water source located next to the Sea of Galilee to Syria.
Syria and Israel began indirect talks again in 2008 under Turkey's mediation to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement. The talks were terminated following Israel's attack on Gaza and the resignation of then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak due to a corruption case. Netanyahu convened his Cabinet in the Golan Heights in 2016, calling on the world to recognize the area as "Israeli territory," but the international community did not respond positively and instead reacted negatively. After becoming the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump announced on March 25, 2019, that they recognized "Israeli sovereignty" over the Golan Heights, which is Syrian territory.
ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON SYRIA
Following the intensification of 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.
Beginning to destroy the military infrastructure and capabilities left by the regime army, the Israeli army expanded its occupation in Syria, advancing as close as 25 kilometers to the capital, Damascus.