TVN Desk
Israel has deployed tanks into the buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syrian-controlled territory, following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces earlier on Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the move, stating that the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria “has collapsed.” The agreement, brokered after the Yom Kippur War, established the buffer zone as a demilitarized area patrolled by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
Netanyahu confirmed that he had directed the Israeli military to seize control of the buffer zone and nearby commanding positions. “Given the developments, I ordered the military to secure these areas to ensure Israel’s safety and regional stability,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement.
The decision comes amidst heightened regional tension and uncertainty following Assad’s removal. Rebel forces captured the Syrian capital, Damascus, marking a significant shift in the country’s ongoing conflict.
The UN and international observers have yet to respond to Israel’s actions, but the deployment raises questions about the future of the buffer zone and the stability of the region. Israel’s military has stated it will maintain its presence to prevent potential threats from the volatile situation in Syria.
