Netanyahu Declares IDF Presence in Syria Is of ‘Immense Importance’: Damascus Insists It’s ‘Illegal’
Syria issued sharp complaints on Wednesday after Israeli leaders toured an IDF position inside the buffer zone along the Golan Heights, calling the activity an “illegal” intrusion and demanding that all Israeli forces leave the area. Officials in Damascus said the presence of senior Israeli figures amounted to a violation of Syrian sovereignty, even as Israel framed the visit as part of its routine security oversight near the northern frontier.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to the IDF-held sector earlier in the day, where he inspected troops responsible for overseeing the line separating Israeli-controlled territory from the rest of southern Syria. Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and additional security officials joined the tour, which the Prime Minister’s Office said was arranged to express appreciation to units operating there.
During the stop, Netanyahu addressed soldiers stationed at the outpost. “We attach immense importance to our capability here, both defensive and offensive, safeguarding our Druze allies, and especially safeguarding Israel and its northern border opposite the Golan Heights,” he told them, as reported by Times of Israel, “This is a mission that can develop at any moment, but we are counting on you.”
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According to the PMO, the troops welcomed the show of support. Some were on their sixth deployment, and officials said they told Netanyahu they intend to continue defending the border. The prime minister spoke with both regular and reserve forces, thanked them for their service during the war, and took questions about conditions on the ground.
Hours after the visit became public, Syrian authorities released a statement arguing that the Israeli delegation’s presence constituted “a serious breach” of Syrian territory and was designed as “a new attempt to impose a fait accompli.” The statement asserted that all Israeli actions in the south were “null and void” and urged international pressure to restore the provisions of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Syria also repeated its position that it “will continue to defend its sovereignty and its rights until every inch of its land is restored.”
Damascus accuses Israel of expanding its operations in the area over the past year, citing cross-border raids and airstrikes. Israel, for its part, maintains that its presence is necessary to secure the northern communities and prevent hostile activity near the Golan Heights.
