Israel Establishes Military Posts on Mount Hermon in Occupied Syrian Golan Heights
Key Developments:
- The Israeli army has set up two military posts on Mount Hermon (Jabal Al-Sheikh) in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, according to Israeli media reports.
- One of the posts was previously an abandoned Syrian site, now occupied by Israeli forces.
- Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz visited the area, stating that the military presence in Hermon will remain indefinite.
Security and Strategic Impact:
- Katz claimed Israel’s expansion aims to secure the area and keep southern Syria demilitarized.
- A UN post, manned by Nepalese peacekeepers, is located nearby but does not interact with the Israeli military.
- Katz issued a warning to Syrian interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, asserting that Israel is ready to defend the Golan and Galilee residents from potential threats.
Expansion of Israeli Occupation:
- Following the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime in December, Israel seized the demilitarized buffer zone, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement.
- Israel has used this period to intensify airstrikes across Syria, targeting fighter jets, missile systems, and air defense installations.
- The Israeli army now controls up to 15 kilometers into Syrian territory, impacting 40,000 Syrian residents in the region.
Future Implications:
- Tel Aviv plans to permit Syrian Druze community members to work in Israel.
- Israel’s annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights has not been recognized by the UN or under international law.
- The ongoing expansion raises regional tensions and could trigger further conflicts in the area.
This development signals Israel’s continued strategic entrenchment in Syria, despite international opposition and potential violations of agreements.
