Israeli forces have entered Syrian territory and seized the Jabal al-Sheikh outpost on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, following the withdrawal of Bashar al-Assad’s army from the area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the collapse of Assad's government was a "direct result" of Israel's military campaign targeting Iranian influence and Hezbollah in Syria and Lebanon. Netanyahu defended the occupation of new areas in the Syrian Golan Heights, stating that he had instructed the military to seize the buffer zone separating the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria.

The buffer zone, established under a 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria, had been patrolled by United Nations peacekeepers for decades. Israel previously occupied the Golan Heights during the Six-Day War in 1967 and formally annexed it in 1981, a move that remains unrecognized by much of the international community.

The Jabal al-Sheikh outpost holds immense strategic significance. The Israeli military’s elite Shaldag Unit was reportedly involved in securing the peak, which offers commanding views and firing range over surrounding ridges. This tactical advantage bolsters Israel’s ability to conduct surveillance and defend the region against potential threats.

According to media reports, Israeli forces have also occupied positions within the demilitarized zone along the 1974 disengagement line. If confirmed, this would mark the first permanent Israeli presence in the buffer zone since its creation.

This development could heighten tensions in the region, as the occupied Golan Heights has been a flashpoint in Israeli-Syrian relations for decades. Since 1974, the area has been regarded as a sensitive region under the supervision of international peacekeepers.

While Israel justifies the move as a security measure against regional adversaries like Iran and Hezbollah, critics argue it constitutes an expansion of Israeli occupation into Syrian territory amid Syria’s internal chaos.

The occupation of Mount Hermon is expected to draw international scrutiny, given the broader implications for regional stability and adherence to international law. (ILKHA)