Israel Ensures Its Troops Stay In Syrian Territory For Undetermined Time

PM Netanyahu (surfaced) with Israeli officials and soldiers on Mount Hermon. (Source: Maayan Toaf/GPO)

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that Israeli forces would remain stationed within the Syrian territory for an indefinite time, as he reviewed the situation at the summit of Mount Hermon with senior security officials.

PM Netanyahu entered Syrian territory accompanied by Israeli Defense Minister Katz, Israeli Chief of Staff Defense Forces (IDF) Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, Head of Shin Bet Ronen Bat and head of North Command Major General Uri Gordin.

This is the first time the Israeli Prime Minister has been active in office into Syrian territory.

Standing at the top of Mount Hermon, PM Netanyahu reiterated Israel will remain at its peak "until another arrangement is found that guarantees Israel's security."

"I was here 53 years ago with my army on the Sayeret Matkal patrol," he said, launching The Times of Israel December 18.

"This place has not changed, it is the same place, but the importance of this place for Israel's security has been further strengthened in recent years, and especially in recent weeks with dramatic events occurring below us here in Syria," said PM Netanyahu.

He said, going forward, Israel would "determine the best arrangements that would ensure our security."

Israel entered the UN patrol buffer zone in the Golan Heights hours after a rebel group in Syria seized Damascus and the fall of President Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

Israel emphasizes the struggle for the buffer zone set in 1974 is a temporary defense measure that will only last until security is guaranteed along the border, saying it does not want to engage in conflict in Syria.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Katz described Mount Hermon as "the eyes of the State of Israel to detect close and distant threats."

"IDF is here to protect the people in the Golan Heights and Israeli citizens from any threat, from the most important places to do so," Defense Minister Katz said.

"We will stay here as long as needed," he added.

"Our presence at the top of Hermon strengthens security and adds to the dimensions of supervision and deterrence against Hezbollah's strongholds in the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon as well as the prevention of rebels in Damascus, who pretend to display moderate imagery, but are among the most extreme groups," he explained.

Katz's comments appear to refer to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group whose fighters and allies invaded from northwest Syria and entered the capital on December 8.