Israeli officials said that Tel Aviv would “need” to maintain an operational perimeter of 15 kilometers inside Syrian territory.
The officials explained to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that this step aims to “ensure that the allies of the new regime are not able to launch missiles towards the Golan Heights.”
They pointed out the necessity of having a sphere of influence extending 60 kilometers inside Syria, under the control of Israeli intelligence, in order to monitor and prevent the emergence of potential threats.
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Israel took control of the buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights and deployed its forces in southern Syria. It also launched attacks targeting strategic sites belonging to the Syrian army.
Earlier, the leader of the new administration in Syria, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, said, “Israel must withdraw from the lands it occupied in Syria.”
He stressed that Israel, which seized a buffer zone after the fall of Assad and advanced as far as Mount Hermon, must withdraw.
On the other hand, in a message of reassurance to Israel, Al-Sharaa said: “We do not want any conflict, whether with Israel or with any other party, and we will not allow Syria to be used as a platform for attacks.”
He stressed that he would not allow the country to be used as a launching pad for attacks against Israel or any other country.
Last updated: January 10, 2025 – 12:55
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