Netanyahu declares 'no Syrian forces' to be allowed south of Damascus

Netanyahu declares 'no Syrian forces' to be allowed south of Damascus

News Desk

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded on 23 February the "complete demilitarization of southern Syria" and said Israel would not allow the new government to deploy its forces south of Damascus.

"We will not allow forces from the HTS organization or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus," Netanyahu said, referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces, the former Al-Qaeda branch in Syria that toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad.

"We demand the complete demilitarization of southern Syria," Netanyahu added while speaking at a ceremony for combat officers in central Israel.

HTS fought against the Assad government for 14 years, enjoying support from the US, Israel, Turkiye, and Gulf states, before taking power in December.

When HTS came to power, led by former Al-Qaeda commander Ahmad al-Sharaa, Israeli forces immediately moved to occupy additional Syrian territory in the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights, including atop the strategic Mount Hermon.

Israeli troops will stay in these newly occupied territories for "an unlimited period of time… We will not allow [HTS] forces or the new Syrian army to move into territory south of Damascus," Netanyahu insisted.

"We demand full demilitarization of southern Syria from troops of the new Syrian regime in the Quneitra, Daraa, and Suweyda provinces," Netanyahu said, adding that Israel will not accept any threats to the Druze religious minority in southern Syria.

During his speech to the combat officers, Netanyahu also warned that in the Gaza Strip, Israel is "ready to return at any moment to intensive combat. The operational plans are ready."

"All of our hostages, without exception, will return home," he said. "Hamas won't rule Gaza. Gaza will be demilitarized, and its fighting force will be dismantled."

A ceasefire is currently in place to halt fighting between Hamas and Israel in Gaza and to facilitate a prisoner exchange between the two sides.

The Prime Minister's office said on Sunday the release of Palestinian prisoners planned for yesterday has been paused "until the release of the next hostages is guaranteed, and without the rituals of humiliation."

During his speech, Netanyahu called Hamas "monsters" and claimed the resistance movement had "strangled" a small Israeli boy and his baby brother, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, "with their bare hands" during their captivity in Gaza.