Netanyahu: We won’t withdraw from the buffer zone in southern Syria
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israeli ambassadors during a closed-door meeting that his forces would continue to be stationed in the buffer zone in southern Syria without any intention of withdrawing, media reports confirmed, stressing that the presence of these forces in their current positions represents an irreversible strategic necessity.
Netanyahu made it clear that security arrangements in the south must be built in a way that preserves Israeli interests.
He added last week that he expected Syria to establish a demilitarized buffer zone stretching from Damascus to the occupied Golan Heights.
During a conference of ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in occupied Jerusalem, Netanyahu said, “We hope to reach an agreement to separate forces in southern Syria, but we are preserving our interests, and we are working to disarm southwest Syria and protect the Druze community while remaining in control of our strategic positions there”.
In contrast, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani stressed during a dialogue session at the Doha 2025 Forum that the Israeli occupation represents the most prominent challenges facing his country, stressing that its withdrawal from Syrian territory is a prerequisite and a red line for Damascus.
“Syria needs calm relations that stand at a distance from everyone, but Israel is the most prominent challenge for us,” al Shaibani said, adding that Syrian diplomacy seeks to build a wide network of friends to support internal and regional stability, noting that the new government was launched with popular support despite the lack of resources and the heavy legacy of the former regime.
