Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Thursday that the military presence of Israeli troops in the demilitarized zone in southern Syria is not permanent, saying it is a measure to prevent jihadist groups from “filling that vacuum.”
"The collapse of the Syrian regime has created a vacuum on Israel's border and in the buffer zone established by the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement," the president said in a statement from his office today.
"Israel will not allow jihadist groups to fill this vacuum and threaten Israeli communities in the Golan Heights with 7/XNUMX-style attacks," he said.
According to Israel, in response to this threat, the decision was made to deploy troops in the demilitarized zone in the early hours of December 8, and four brigades now remain, controlling “strategic sites near Israel’s border.”
“This deployment is temporary until a force committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security at our border can be guaranteed.”, the statement reiterates.
Israeli media who visited the area with the military yesterday described consolidated structures within the buffer zone, with “containers with toilets, showers and a small kitchen.”
In addition, Israel has also bombed more than 300 targets in Syria in recent days, including missile depots, tanks, fighter planes and warships, according to an army estimate. destroying more than 70% of the military capabilities of the already ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article.