Netanyahu: I demand that Damascus withdraw its forces from southern Syria and I won’t tolerate threats to the Druze community!

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that his forces will remain in Syria’s Mount Hermon and the buffer zone in the Golan Heights for an indefinite period of time.

“Israel won’t allow Hay’at Tahrir al Sham or the New Syrian Army to advance into territory south of Damascus,” he said during a graduation course for army officers.

Netanyahu also continued, “We demand the complete disarmament of the new Syrian regime forces in southern Syria in the provinces of Quneitra, Dara’a, and Sweida,” adding that Israel won’t accept any threats to the Druze in southern Syria.

For more than a month, Israel has continued its incursions into Syrian territory, setting up military bases and observation posts.

Over the past two months, Israeli incursions have been concentrated in the provinces of Quneitra and Dara’a, where soldiers entered dozens of towns and then withdrew.

The Israeli army brought military reinforcements into Syria and established permanent military bases, according to satellite images shown earlier this month.

Israel established two bases in Quneitra, linked by a dirt road network leading to the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

A month and a half ago, Israeli forces penetrated the buffer zone inside Syria adjacent to the border, claiming that it was an important step for its security.

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz supported Netanyahu’s statements, noting that Israel is closely monitoring the region, especially Syria, and vowed that the situation won’t return to what it was before October 7.

Katz also added that they will work to strengthen relations with the residents of the region, especially with the Druze, whom they consider brothers to the Druze who fight alongside Israel.

At the end of his statements, the Minister of Defense stressed that the Israeli army will remain stationed on Mount Hermon and the buffer zone to ensure the security of the settlements in the Golan Heights, the north, and all residents of Israel.