Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has pledged to keep Israeli forces in southern Syria as long as what he described as threats to Israel’s security remain. Katz made the comments during a rare visit to troops stationed in the area on Tuesday.
Israeli forces have maintained positions in southern Syria since the fall of longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Israel established what it calls a security zone after taking control of territory that had previously formed part of a United Nations-patrolled buffer separating Israeli and Syrian forces.
Katz Says Israeli Forces Will Remain
During his visit, Katz said Israeli troops were carrying out daily operations to counter potential threats along the border. He also said the military was working to prevent remnants of Assad’s former government from regrouping and to stop the new Syrian authorities from building up forces in sensitive areas.
Katz directed a warning toward Syria’s new leadership in Damascus. He said Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa should understand that Israeli forces remain positioned near Mount Hermon to protect Israeli communities and the country’s border.
The Israeli defence minister repeated that the IDF would remain in the area for as long as Israel considers security threats to exist.
Israel Continues Operations in Syria
Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes inside Syria since Assad’s government collapsed. Israeli forces have also made repeated ground incursions into Syrian territory.
Israeli officials have repeatedly said they intend to maintain their presence in the security zone. The government has also pushed for a wider demilitarised area in southern Syria.
Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited troops in the zone last week. During that visit, he said the military would not allow potential threats to establish themselves near Israel’s border.
Abu Duhur Strike Raises Tensions
Katz also addressed Israel’s recent strike on the Abu Duhur air base in northwestern Syria.
Israel bombed the former military facility a week ago, saying the operation aimed to prevent Turkish troops from establishing a presence there. Turkey has denied that its forces visited the site.
Katz said Israel had acted against what he described as a Turkish attempt to establish a foothold in Syria. He argued that such a development could threaten Israeli security interests.
The incident adds another layer to the increasingly complicated security situation in post-Assad Syria, where Israel, Turkey and the new Syrian authorities are pursuing different interests.
For now, Katz’s latest comments indicate that Israel has no immediate plans to withdraw its troops from southern Syria. Instead, Israeli officials continue to link the military presence to perceived security threats along the border.
