Israeli Army prepares for winter deployment on mount Hermon

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has directed troops to remain stationed on Mount Hermon throughout the winter, citing its strategic significance amid ongoing tensions in Syria.

Mount Hermon, located at the intersection of Syria, Lebanon, and a UN buffer zone in the Golan Heights, has become a focal point following Israel’s recent military actions in the region.

The directive follows Israel’s seizure of the UN demilitarized buffer zone on December 8, after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Katz stated the “enormous security importance” of maintaining control over the peak.

In a social media post, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared an image of himself overlooking Mount Hermon, stating, “Overlooking the Syrian peak of Mount Hermon, which returned to Israeli control after 51 years.”

The United Nations has strongly condemned Israel’s actions, calling them a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria that established the buffer zone.

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UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Israel to withdraw from the area, expressing concerns over Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The 1974 agreement remains in force,” Guterres said, calling for an end to unauthorized presence in the buffer zone.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed it in 1981, a move largely unrecognized by the international community except for the United States, which acknowledged it in 2019.

With the recent collapse of Assad’s government, Israeli forces moved into new positions, including the summit of Mount Hermon. The UN base near the summit remains within the contested buffer zone.

The Israel Defense Forces, IDF, have conducted more than 350 air and naval strikes this week, targeting Syrian military assets. The IDF claimed these actions were aimed at preventing weapons from falling “into the hands of extremists.”

In light of the severe winter weather on Mount Hermon, Katz’s office stated the need for the IDF to be fully equipped and prepared to ensure their readiness.