Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the 1974 UN-monitored Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria has \"collapsed.\" 😮
Standing atop Mount Bental in the stunning Golan Heights 🌄, Netanyahu shared this significant update. With Defense Minister Israel Katz by his side, the PM looked out over the Syrian border and outlined Israel's next moves.
Netanyahu highlighted that the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government has triggered a domino effect across the Middle East. 'New and very significant opportunities' await Israel, he noted, though he also warned of rising risks. ⚠️
\"We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,\" Netanyahu declared. He has ordered Israeli forces to step into the buffer zone to prevent hostile entities from taking hold. ✋
This move seems directed at groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who are leading rebel advances in Syria.
He pledged that Israel would closely monitor developments and \"do whatever is necessary to protect our borders and ensure our security.\" Netanyahu also expressed hope for a \"policy of good neighborliness\" with Syria. 🤝
Defense Minister Katz added that he instructed the Israel Defense Forces to \"take control of the buffer zone and key vantage points.\" The aim is to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights, both Jewish and Druze, so they're safe from threats across the border.
Since engaging with Hezbollah in Lebanon last October, Israel has ramped up airstrikes in Syria, targeting Iran- and Hezbollah-linked militias and activities. The region is heating up, and all eyes are on what happens next. 🔍
Reference(s):
Israeli PM: 1974 UN-monitored Disengagement Agreement defunct
cgtn.com
