Israel won't allow HTS forces in southern Syria

24/2/2025 6:06

Israel on Sunday said it

will not tolerate presence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in

southern Syria, nor any other forces affiliated with the

country's new rulers, and demanded the territory be

demilitarized.



Former Al Qaeda affiliate HTS took control of Damascus on

December 8 in a stunning offensive, ending then-president Bashar

al-Assad's rule and prompting a wary Israel to move forces into

a U.N.-monitored demilitarized zone within Syria.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel

will keep its positions there as a defensive measure and for as

long as is necessary.



"We will not allow forces of the HTS or the new Syrian army

to enter the territory south of Damascus. We demand full

demilitarization of southern Syria, in the provinces of

Quneitra, Daraa and Sweida," Netanyahu said at a military

graduation ceremony.



"And we will not tolerate any threat to the Druze sect in

southern Syria," he added. The Druze, who practice an offshoot

of Islam, are a minority group in Syria as well as Israel.



Syria has demanded Israel withdraw its forces from the

country. The United Nations says Israel's move into Syrian

territory is a violation of international agreements and has

also called for the troops to be withdrawn.