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Katz visits Mount Hermon
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz toured southern parts of Syria and visited Israeli forces at the summit of Mount Hermon, saying Israel will not leave Mount Hermon or the security zone as long as threats remain.
“Katz said they will not leave Mount Hermon or the security zone in Syria as long as threats against them remain.”
Katz delivered a message to President of Syria (Ahmad) al-Arabsh, telling him: "when you wake up in the palace in Damascus, look toward Mount Hermon and see our forces, you know that we are here to defend our towns and our borders."
Syria condemned the visit as an "illegal entry" and urged the international community to compel the occupation to stop its violations and withdraw immediately to the line of de-escalation.
The Anadolu Ajansı report said Damascus called the move a "clear provocation" and a breach of the "1974 Disengagement Agreement" after Israeli forces seized the buffer zone and other positions last year, including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
Al Jazeera correspondent Elias Karam said Israeli positions on Syria come within a propaganda campaign linked to the elections, and he highlighted the geographic significance of areas overlooking the Lebanese Beqaa and Damascus.
Syria condemns, Israel vows
Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned Katz’s “illegal entry” and crossing of international borders in flagrant violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling on the international community to force the occupying authorities to halt repeated violations.
In the same dispute over the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, the Jerusalem Post said Syria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry called the action "illegal" and described it as a "blatant provocation" and a "clear violation of international law".
Katz told troops at Mount Hermon that Israel "will not move from Mount Hermon and the security zone as long as there are jihadist threats to the State of Israel," framing the deployment as protection for communities and the border.
The Hindu reported that Katz reiterated his pledge to keep forces in southern Syria as long as there were "threats," while also noting that the visit came a week after Israel bombed the disused Abu Duhur base in northwestern Syria.
Shafaq News said the visit followed US-mediated talks in Jordan between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Israeli intelligence chief Roman Gofman aimed at easing tensions and reviving security negotiations.
What comes next
The Syrian Foreign Ministry demanded that Israel cease repeated violations and withdraw from occupied Syrian territory, and it tied the demand to the "1974 Disengagement Agreement" and Syria’s insistence on returning to the demarcation line.
“Syria further urged the international community to assume its legal and political responsibilities”
SANA said Syria urged the international community to take necessary measures to compel Israel to halt repeated violations and demanded the immediate and complete withdrawal of occupying forces from Syrian territories, a return to the demarcation line, and respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On the Israeli side, Katz’s office and Israeli media statements emphasized that Israel would continue to deploy in the Mount Hermon area and the security zone until threats disappear, with Katz saying: "We will not withdraw from Mount Hermon and the security zone as long as there are 'jihadist' threats to the 'State of Israel'."
The Al-Manar TV Lebanon report also said Katz stated, "We thwarted a Turkish attempt to establish a foothold in Syria, which jeopardized Israel’s security interests," linking the continued presence to preventing what he described as danger to Israel’s security interests.
Zad al-Ardun said Katz toured southern Syria areas and sent messages to Sharia, while also stating that since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Syria and announced its intent to establish a de-escalation zone in southern Syria.