Netanyahu: “Israel will not withdraw from occupied areas in southern Syria”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country will maintain its military presence in southern Syria, signaling openness to a limited security arrangement with Damascus.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a firm message during a conference with senior Foreign Ministry officials, declaring that Israel has no intention of pulling back from the territories it controls in southern Syria. Emphasizing the strategic importance of the areas adjacent to the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh), Netanyahu made clear that maintaining control over these zones remains a core national priority.
Israel rejects any pullout from southern Syria
Netanyahu said Israel views the buffer zones near the Golan Heights as essential for national security and underscored that withdrawal is not on the table. “We want to preserve these strategic assets,” he stated, pointing to long-standing concerns over regional threats along Israel’s northern frontier.
Possibility of security arrangements with Damascus
Despite the firm stance, Netanyahu expressed hope that Israel and the Syrian government could reach an understanding regarding the demilitarization of southern Syria. Such an arrangement, he noted, could also help ensure the protection of the local Druze communities.
Golan region tensions remain high
Netanyahu’s remarks come amid renewed debate over the future of the Golan Heights and its surrounding areas. The Israeli leader’s insistence on holding the current lines suggests that geopolitical tensions along the northern border are unlikely to ease in the near term.
