Katz: Our Forces Will Remain in the Syrian Part of Mount Hermon During Winter

Israel Katz, the Israeli Defense Minister, stated on Friday that he has ordered the country's army soldiers to prepare to stay in the Syrian part of Mount Hermon during the winter months. According to Katz's statement, in light of current events in Syria, the presence of Israeli army soldiers at the summit of Mount Hermon has "major security significance" and necessary preparations must be made for the soldiers to remain under adverse weather conditions. Katz also shared a photo of himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Golan Heights overlooking the Syrian part of Mount Hermon, stating that this mountain has "returned to Israeli control after 51 years." He called the deployment of Israeli soldiers in Hermon a "historic exciting moment." The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected criticisms regarding the deployment of its soldiers in parts of Syrian territory, stating that this action is "temporary" and aimed at preventing extremist groups from dominating the border between Israel and Syria. Israel took control of most of the Golan Heights as a result of the Six-Day War in 1967. It maintained control during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and formally annexed the territory eight years later. Donald Trump, the then-President of the United States, recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights on March 25, 2019. Israel has been conducting extensive attacks on strategic weapon depots and military equipment in Syrian territory, stating that it will remain until security in the Syrian buffer zone is guaranteed. Netanyahu has claimed that Israel will destroy the "axis of evil" of the Islamic Republic in the region, while the U.S. has emphasized "close consultations" with Israel regarding developments in Syria. The operation "Arrow of the Warriors" refers to Israel's heavy attacks on Syrian weapon depots. Reuters reported that "the Israeli army has reached 25 kilometers from Damascus," which Israel denied.