Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the country’s military to remain on Mount Hermon, a strategic peak on the border with Syria, until at least the end of 2025. The move comes as Israel captures the mountain after a rebel-led coalition took down Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month.
Netanyahu’s decision aims to stabilize the political-security situation in Syria and ensure that new leaders honor a 1974 agreement creating a buffer zone along the shared border, where Mount Hermon’s summit sits. The UN peacekeepers, which once patrolled the area, are no longer present.
Syria’s new leader has accused Israel of violating international norms by taking control of the mountain. Several Arab states have also criticized Israel for seeking to exploit Syria’s instability and expand its territory. Netanyahu argues that Israel needs to maintain control of Mount Hermon to prevent the spread of extremist groups in the region.
The strategic location of Mount Hermon, which overlooks Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, makes it a crucial position. Control of the Syrian foothills puts Damascus within artillery range, while Israeli expansion plans in the Golan Heights have raised concerns about further territory seizures.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/18/middleeast/idf-mount-hermon-2025-intl-latam/index.html