After His Visit to Southern Syria… Netanyahu Affirms Israel Will Continue Its Security Measures

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that his country is continuing to “protect its interests” on the northern border, following his visit two days ago to the buffer zone in southern Syria — a visit that was met with strong criticism from Syria and several Arab and international countries.

In press statements on Wednesday evening, Netanyahu said that Israel is “determined to prevent a repeat of the events of October 7 from any border, including Syria,” adding that he visited the area to ensure the readiness of Israeli forces. He stated that Israel “will not allow the emergence of threats in southern Syria and will safeguard its interests whether an agreement is reached or not,” noting at the same time that reaching an agreement could be “more beneficial for Damascus than for Israel,” as he put it.

Netanyahu also referred to “concerns regarding the Druze villages in Suwayda Province,” stressing the importance of the defensive and offensive capabilities of his forces in the area.

The Israeli prime minister had arrived in southern Syria accompanied by Defense Minister Yoav Katz and several senior military commanders, where he inspected Israeli forces stationed in the buffer zone and delivered a speech to them.

For its part, the Syrian government condemned the visit, describing it as “illegal” and a “serious violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Since the fall of the former Syrian regime in December 2024, Israel has strengthened its military presence in southern Syria, particularly in the buffer zone. It has carried out airstrikes on military sites and conducted limited incursions around Quneitra, arresting several civilians and farmers, according to local reports.

Despite ongoing direct talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv over the past months under U.S. sponsorship, no security agreement has yet been reached, while Israeli officials — including Katz — affirm that Israel does not intend to withdraw from the Golan Heights.