Israeli army seizes several areas in Syria’s Golan Heights

Following the dramatic collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his military to seize control of several areas in Syria’s Golan Heights, specifically the buffer zone established under the 1974 agreement.

Israel also announced the deployment of additional troops in the buffer zone. Israel had previously occupied parts of the Golan Heights during the 1967 war, a move widely condemned as illegal by the United Nations and the international community, with the exception of the United States.

As opposition forces in Syria continued their advance, Bashar al-Assad fled the country. On Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Syrian forces had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israeli intervention as the 1974 agreement was effectively void.

“We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” Netanyahu declared.

The Israeli army issued warnings to residents in Ofaniya, Quneitra, al-Hamidiyah, Samdaniya al-Gharbiyya, and al-Qahtaniyah.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes targeted weapons depots in Damascus and southern Syria to prevent these arms from falling into the hands of rebel forces.

Previously, Israel had frequently bombed weapons depots in Syria to prevent arms transfers to Hezbollah and Iran-backed militias in Lebanon.

The fall of the Assad regime marked the end of over 50 years of rule by the Assad family in Syria.

Rebel forces took control of Damascus, including state TV, radio stations, and the Ministry of Defense.

President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule collapsed in just a week amid reports of his death or disappearance.

Russian sources later revealed that Assad and his family had fled to Moscow, where they were granted political asylum.

In Syria, celebrations erupted as government forces withdrew from key areas. In Damascus, the presidential palace was looted, prompting rebel forces to impose a curfew across the city.