Defense Minister Israel Katz visited IDF troops at the Hermon crest in Syria on Tuesday, stating that the military will remain in the buffer zone as long as jihadist threats persist. Katz also said Israel acted to block a Turkish attempt to entrench in Syria.
Defense Minister Israel Katz toured the Hermon crest in Syria on Tuesday, meeting with IDF commanders and reiterating that Israel will maintain its military presence in the buffer zone as long as jihadist threats remain. "We will not move from the Hermon and the security zone as long as there are jihadist threats against the State of Israel," Katz said, addressing troops stationed at the former Syrian outpost.
Katz also revealed that Israel had taken action to thwart a Turkish attempt to establish a foothold in Syria, which he described as endangering Israeli security interests. "We acted against a Turkish attempt to entrench in Syria, making our position clear, and we will stand by it in the future," he stated.
The visit, which included Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai and Northern Command head Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo among other senior officers, comes amid Israel's ongoing military operations in southern Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime. The IDF has destroyed much of the former Syrian army's strategic infrastructure and maintains a corridor from the Hermon to the buffer zone, overlooking Damascus, the Bekaa Valley, and Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.
The Zioneer has reported extensively on Katz's policy of maintaining indefinite security zones across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. This visit marks the first time Katz has toured the Syrian Hermon position while publicly addressing the Turkish dimension of the conflict.
2 developments
- StrongDefense Minister Israel Katz visits Hermon crest in Syria
- StrongDefense Minister tours Gaza as IDF prepares to resume fighting
- StrongKatz to Erdogan: 'Don't test Israel's resolve' as he warns against Syria 'adventures'
- ConfirmedIDF Chief of Staff: Israel Will Maintain Buffer Zone in Syria, Block Turkish Entrenchment
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