Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a historic move on Tuesday by entering Syrian territory during a security tour of the buffer zone recently seized by Israel. This marks the first time a sitting Israeli leader has ventured into Syrian territory.
Following the fall of Bashar Assad, Israel took control of a swath of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, designating it as a buffer zone. The Golan Heights, captured by Israel during the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed, remains under Israeli control, despite lacking recognition from most of the international community.
Accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz, Netanyahu visited the snow-covered summit of Mount Hermon, the highest peak in the region, situated within Syrian territory. Katz emphasized Israel's commitment to maintaining a presence in the Syrian buffer zone for as long as necessary, directing the Israeli military to swiftly establish fortifications in preparation for an extended stay.
Mount Hermon, a strategic vantage point, serves as a crucial location for Israel to monitor potential threats from nearby and distant adversaries. Israeli forces are in the process of securing a demilitarized buffer zone spanning approximately 400 square kilometers in Syrian territory, established by the U.N. after the 1973 Mideast war. A U.N. peacekeeping force of around 1,100 troops has been overseeing the area since its inception.
Mount Hermon's terrain is divided among the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Lebanon, and Syria. Notably, only the United States recognizes Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
