Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a warning, stating that Israel will not allow Syrian military forces to operate south of Damascus. Speaking at a military ceremony on Sunday, Netanyahu called for the complete demilitarization of southern Syria, particularly in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Suwayda. He insisted that no Syrian military forces, including those from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which played a significant role in the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad last December, should be allowed into the area.
Netanyahu also emphasized Israel’s commitment to protecting the Druze community living in the Golan Heights, a region illegally occupied by Israel, and warned against any threats to their safety. He reiterated that Israel will not tolerate any threats coming from southern Syria, a region that has seen tensions rise following the fall of Assad.
Israel has expanded its influence in the region since Assad’s fall, establishing a buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Syria. This expansion is seen as a violation of the 1974 United Nations-brokered ceasefire agreement, which designated the Golan Heights as a demilitarized zone. Despite Israel’s justification of its military actions as targeting Iranian forces in Syria, Syria has indicated it has no desire for further conflict with Israel, and Iran has denied any military presence in Syria.
Currently, Israel has established several military posts in the Golan Heights and the adjacent buffer zone, including positions on Mount Hermon. Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces would remain in the area indefinitely to ensure the security of Israeli communities and to prevent any potential threats from Syria.
Source : https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/23/israel-wont-allow-syria-military-forces-south-of-damascus-netanyahu