Israel Attacks Syrian Government Positions; Katz: We Do Not Trust Ahmad al-Shara

Israel Katz, the Israeli Defense Minister, stated on Thursday, March 1, that the Israeli Air Force targeted positions of the new Syrian government on Tuesday. According to him, these attacks were in response to the new Syrian government's efforts to establish its forces in demilitarized areas near the Israeli border. Katz emphasized that Israel will not allow violations of the demilitarized zone and the emergence of any threats. He added that the presence of Israeli army forces in strategic areas of southern Syria will continue indefinitely to prevent the influence of the Islamic Republic and terrorist threats. The Israeli Defense Minister stated that southern Syria must be a demilitarized zone, messages have been sent in this regard, and the Israeli army is preparing to achieve this. Katz further said, 'We made an immediate decision to prevent the rescue of the Syrian regime by [the Iranian government] and the arrival of militias.' He noted that 'messages have been sent through all necessary channels that if they come, we will attack.' Regarding the new Syrian government, he said that Ahmad al-Shara has changed his robe for a suit and speaks eloquently, but Israel does not trust the new Syrian government. Katz rejected any timeline for the withdrawal of Israeli army forces from southern Lebanon, adding that they will remain in the region indefinitely. According to him, the United States has also given a green light to this issue. In another part of his remarks, the Israeli Defense Minister referred to the increase in operations by his country's army to destroy terrorist networks supported by the Islamic Republic in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). He reminded that the Iranian government has provided weapons, funding, and instructions necessary for the establishment of terrorist squads and the creation of an eastern front against Jewish settlers over the past two years. Hamas, a terrorist group supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, killed about 1,200 people during the terrorist attack on October 6, 2023, and took more than 250 hostage. This action by Hamas faced a reaction from Israel, which attacked Gaza, the area controlled by Hamas. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and several other countries. Rubio: Hamas should immediately return the remaining 59 hostages. Hamas delivered the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross. Israel: We targeted the person responsible for the smuggling of weapons from the Islamic Republic to Hezbollah. Steve Wittecuff: Lebanon and Syria can also join the 'Abraham Accords.'