Damascus (MEE): The Israeli military has taken control of the Golan Heights buffer zone following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad‘s government in Syria, the Middle East Eye reported on Sunday.
Israel partly occupied the Golan Heights in 1967 and a buffer zone was created in 1974 to separate areas under Israeli and Syrian control.
On Sunday, the Syrian rebels ousted former president Bashar al-Assad’s government, forcing the country’s forces to abandon their positions.
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Soon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the long-standing disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria had collapsed and ordered his forces to capture the buffer zone and nearby strategic positions.
He emphasized that Israel would not allow any hostile forces to operate near its border. His remarks came during a visit to the Golan Heights, which is widely recognized as occupied territory, except by the United States.
The Israeli army also instructed residents in five Syrian-controlled areas—Ofania, Quneitra, Al-Hamidiyah, Al-Samdaniyah Al-Gharbiyah, and Al-Qahtania—not to leave their homes.
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About Golden Heights Buffer Zone
Since 2011, the Golan Heights has seen clashes involving various armed groups after years of relative calm. Although Netanyahu welcomed Assad’s fall, he expressed concerns about opposition forces such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group hostile to Israel.
Israeli troops were deployed to the Golan Heights, citing potential threats from armed groups entering the buffer zone. The military stated it was acting to ensure the safety of local communities and would maintain operations as needed to protect the area.
On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted former Syrian military bases now controlled by rebel forces. Strikes were reported at Mezzah airbase near Damascus and ammunition depots in Sweida and Daraa provinces, though Israel did not confirm these attacks.
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Earlier that day, Syrian rebels captured Damascus with little resistance. They seized strategic sites, including the airport and state TV headquarters. Assad reportedly fled the capital before the rebels arrived, and his current location is unknown.
The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, has resulted in over 500,000 deaths and displaced 12 million people.
