Israel says it will remain in Syria’s Mount Hermon indefinitely

Israeli forces are set to remain on the summit of Mount Hermon indefinitely, after seizing the strategic ground in southern Syria following the fall of the Assad regime, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on January 28th, Reuters reported.
Katz said Israel would not permit what he described as hostile forces to establish themselves in Syria’s South.
Mount Hermon towers above the Syria-Lebanon border and faces the Damascus countryside as well as the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
During his visit to Israeli posts on the summit of the mountain, Katz said the purpose of his trip is to ensure that the Israeli army is ready “for both defence and offence,” Middle East Eye reported on January 29th.
“We will not return to the reality of October 7, and we will not rely on others for our defence – here or anywhere else. We only rely on the commanders and soldiers of the IDF, both regular and reserve, to provide security to the people of Israel,” Katz added.
Katz also said: “We will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves in the security zone in southern Syria… we will act against any threat.”
Israel says its troops have entered and taken up positions inside a UN-monitored buffer zone in Syria, while some troops have gone beyond it.
Israeli officials previously claimed that its move into Syria was short-term and restricted to ensure security for Israel’s borders.
The United Nations and a number of other countries have criticised Israel’s decision to remain in Syria, claiming it is a breach of international agreements.
Reuters, Middle East Eye