Syria Protests Israel Sends Dozens Of Troops Control The Mount Hermon Region

Northern Syria/er big UNOCHA/Ali Haj Suleiman

JAKARTA - Syria says Israel has sent 60 troops to control territory within the Syrian border around Mount Hermon. Syria calls the operation a violation of its sovereignty and poses further threats to regional security.

Israel did not immediately comment on allegations by the Syrian Foreign Ministry that surfaced at the time the two countries were involved in US-mediated negotiations to defuse their conflict in southern Syria.

Damascus hopes to reach a security agreement that could eventually pave the way for broader political negotiations.

The incident on Monday, August 25, took place near the top of a strategic hill overlooking Beit Jinn, an area in southern Syria close to the Lebanese border, the Syrian ministry said.

Israel also arrested six Syrians there, according to residents in the region.

The region is known as a place for arms smuggling by the Lebanese Hezbollah group affiliated with Iran and by Palestinian jihadist factions. Israel's previous attacks mostly took place in the southern region of Quneitra Province.

The Israeli military on Sunday shared footage they call troops that found weapons storage facilities last week in southern Syria.

"This dangerous ecosystem is considered a direct threat to regional peace and security," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Israel has cited its own security concerns over its military intervention in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad last December, including what it considers an obligation to protect minority members of Druze in southern Syria.

Hundreds of people were reportedly killed in last month's clashes in the southern province of Sweida between fighters Druze, the Sunni Bedouin, and government forces.

Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it called the mass killing of Druze by Syrian government forces.

In January, Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said Israeli troops would remain at the top of Mount Hermon indefinitely.

Since then, Israel has formed a de facto security zone, where they regularly patrol, establish checkpoints and conduct searches and raids in villages.