Netanyahu Travels to Israeli-Controlled Syria, His Office Says
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday met with military officers in Israeli-controlled territory in Syria, according to his office.It did not immediately clarify whether Mr.Netanyahu entered territory captured this month, or if he stayed in the areas occupied by Israel in 1967 and later annexed.The previously unannounced trip highlighted Israel’s military presence in Syria.
Since the fall this month of President Bashar al-Assad, Israeli forces have captured more territory across the de facto border with Syria in what Israeli officials have described as a temporary security measure.The Israeli presence has been viewed as provocative by the Syrian rebel alliance that ousted Mr.
al-Assad and is trying to build a new government in Damascus.Last week Israeli forces seized territory in southwest Syria that includes the summit of Mount Hermon and other locations that the Israel Defense Forces said are essential for stabilizing control of the area.Mr.Netanyahu met with Israel’s defense minister, the Israeli military chief of staff and other officials “on the Hermon ridge,” according to a statement on Tuesday from his office, which did not specify the exact location of the meeting.
“The prime minister reviewed the I.D.F.deployment in the area and set guidelines for the future,” it said.Israel has given no timeline for its forces’ departure from the area and said they would stay until its security demands were met.At the same time, Israeli planes have conducted waves of airstrikes aimed at destroying Syrian military assets, including its navy, air force, tanks, weapons production facilities and air defense systems.Israel’s government has argued that it is attempting to protect civilians who live in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights and to guard against any threats that could potentially emanate from Syria.
Israel seized the Golan Heights during the Arab-Israeli War of 1967 and the area is considered illegally occupied under international law.This ...