Israel has announced that it will indefinitely station troops in the recently occupied southern Syrian region.
The excuse is to “protect” Israelis near the border and the Druze minority in Syria.
Israel has been illegally occupying parts of the Golan Heights, which is Syrian territory under international law, and its territorial expansion ambitions are in full swing as the Syrian government’s control has weakened since the fall of the Assad regime last December.
Israel previously took advantage of the chaos following the fall of Assad’s regime by sending troops into the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights.
At the end of last year, Israel claimed that it was a “temporary measure” in the face of harsh criticism from international society, but then changed its words to say that it would stay in Syria “over the winter” (Minister Katz), and later vowed to keep its troops in Syria “until there is an agreement” (Prime Minister Netanyahu). Then, this year, it has been openly pushing for an “indefinite occupation.”
Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel (TOI) reported that nine Israeli military outposts have been set up in Syrian territory, including two atop Mount Hermon.
A “security zone” has also been established to prevent other militants from entering, according to the report. The zone includes areas on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus, up to 80 kilometers from the Israeli border.
Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has occupied the Syrian territory of the Golan Heights and emigrated its inhabitants, which is considered illegal by international society.
Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former commander in chief of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is limiting his position that his group has no intention of attacking Israel.
