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“Netanyahu Orders Israeli Troops to Remain on Syria’s Mount Hermon Until 2025, Sources Confirm”

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Netanyahu Orders Israeli Troops to Stay on Syria’s Mount Hermon Until 2025 Amid Tensions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the country’s military to remain stationed on Syria’s Mount Hermon until at least the end of 2025, according to a source familiar with the matter, speaking to CNN on Wednesday. This move follows Israel’s recent capture of the strategically significant mountain, Syria’s highest peak, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month to a rebel coalition.

Initially, Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, framed the military presence as a temporary measure for security purposes. However, the new order is part of a broader strategy to maintain Israeli control long enough to allow the political and security situation in Syria to stabilize. Netanyahu is also awaiting clarity on whether Syria’s new leadership will uphold a 1974 agreement that established a demilitarized buffer zone along the border, which includes Mount Hermon’s summit. This area was previously monitored by UN peacekeepers before Israel’s advance.

Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani), has accused Israel of violating engagement boundaries in Syria. Meanwhile, several Arab nations have criticized Israel, alleging it is exploiting Syria’s instability to annex more territory. Netanyahu, however, has defended the move, emphasizing that Israel will not allow jihadi groups to exploit the region and pose a threat to Israeli communities in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in 1967 and annexed in 1981.

In a related development, the Israeli government recently approved a plan to expand settlements in the Golan Heights, with Netanyahu signaling his intention to double the population of the region. Mount Hermon remains a strategically vital position, offering a commanding view of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. Its location also puts parts of Damascus within artillery range of Israeli forces, a factor that continues to shape the geopolitical calculus in the region.

CNN has not independently verified reports that the Israeli military has extended its presence beyond the summit, with sources claiming forces are advancing towards Beqaasem, about 25 kilometers from Damascus.

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