Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel wouldn’t allow any Syrian forces to be in areas south of Damascus and said the Israeli occupation of southern Syria would continue for “an unlimited period of time.”
“Take note: We will not allow HTS forces or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus,” Netanyahu said, referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the al-Qaeda offshoot that took power in Damascus following the regime change that ousted former President Bashar al-Assad.
“We demand the complete demilitarization of southern Syria in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa and Suwayda from the forces of the new regime. Likewise, we will not tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria,” Netanyahu added in comments he made while speaking at a ceremony for graduating IDF combat officers.
Following the downfall of Assad, which Netanyahu celebrated and took credit for, Israel invaded southern Syria and captured a buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the rest of Syria. Israeli forces have also pushed into territory in Syria’s Quineitra and Daraa governorates and are now establishing nine “permanent” military outposts.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also said on Sunday that the Israeli occupation of southern Syria would continue “for an indefinite period of time to protect our communities and thwart any threat.”
During his speech, Netanyahu also threatened to restart the genocidal war on Gaza amid a fragile hostage deal, saying Israel was “ready to return at any moment to intensive combat. The operational plans are ready.”
