Israeli troops to remain atop Syria's Mt Hermon indefinitely: Katz
3 Min Read
Israeli officials have previously claimed these deployments were limited and part of temporary measures to safeguard Israeli security.
-
An Israeli soldier stands on the top of a tank next to a Syrian tank inside the buffer zone near the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, viewed from the town of Majdal Shams, Saturday, December 21, 2024 (AP)
Israeli forces that seized strategic positions in Southern Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime will remain stationed at the summit of Mount Hermon indefinitely, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday after visiting troops in the area.
Katz emphasized that "Israel" would not permit what he described as hostile forces to establish a presence in southern Syria.
Mount Hermon, a vast cluster of snowcapped peaks overlooking the Syria-Lebanon border, provides a strategic vantage point over the Damascus countryside and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which "Israel" seized from Syria during the 1967 war.
"Israel" has stated that its troops have taken up positions within a UN-monitored demilitarized zone inside Syria, with some units advancing beyond it.
Israeli officials have previously claimed these deployments were limited and part of temporary measures to safeguard Israeli security.
However, "Israel’s" military presence in Syrian territory has drawn criticism from multiple countries and the United Nations, which has called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, citing violations of international agreements.
In December 2024, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the occupied Syrian Golan Heights were Israeli "for eternity".
Netanyahu instructs IOF to prepare stationing in Syria until late 2025
In mid-December, Katz visited Israeli military outposts on Mount Hermon in Syria, emphasizing the strategic importance of the area in countering threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon and factions in Syria.
He was accompanied by Netanyahu, then-military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, and Northern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin.
The visit marked the first by senior officials since "Israel" occupied Mount Hermon. During a situational assessment with top military and intelligence officers, Katz stressed the need to strengthen the Israeli forces' presence at the site.
"The peak of Mount Hermon serves as Israel’s eyes for identifying both near and distant threats. From here, we observe Hezbollah on the right in Lebanon, Damascus on the left—and ahead, we see the State of Israel," Katz said.
The Israeli Security Minister outlined his directives to solidify the Israeli occupation forces' hold on Mount Hermon, including constructing fortifications, enhancing defensive measures, and improving conditions for soldiers stationed there. He underscored the importance of readiness for an extended deployment if necessary.
"We will remain here for as long as necessary. Our presence at the peak of Mount Hermon strengthens security while adding a dimension of observation and deterrence—targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and deterring the rebels in Damascus, who claim a moderate front but belong to the most extreme Islamist factions," Katz stated.
Netanyahu has also instructed the military to prepare to remain in the Syrian Mount Hermon area and the UN-patrolled buffer zone until at least the end of 2025.
The premier emphasized that Israeli forces would remain stationed there "until another solution ensuring Israel's security is found."
