Foreign media outlets have reported on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Mount Hermon, located 25 kilometers southwest of Damascus. This area has seen the deployment of Israeli ground forces, who crossed the Golan Heights to establish positions on the mountain after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.
On Tuesday, December 17, Netanyahu traveled to this mountain near Damascus, where he performed a specific Jewish religious ceremony. Following the ceremony, he declared that Israeli forces would remain stationed in this strategically significant region.
According to the Associated Press, this marks the first time a senior Israeli official has entered Syrian territory. It is also the first time in nearly 70 years that Israeli forces have crossed the UN-controlled Golan Heights into Syria.
Mount Hermon, also known as Jabal al-Sheikh, is among the highest mountain ranges in the Middle East, spanning Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. The stationing of Israeli forces on the mountain places Damascus, Syria’s capital, within range of Israeli artillery.
In recent developments, Israel has not only advanced its ground operations but has also conducted hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in recent days. These strikes have targeted key military installations, significantly crippling Syria’s defense capabilities.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israeli airstrikes have destroyed critical infrastructure, including airports, warehouses, aircraft squadrons, radar systems, signal stations, ammunition depots, research centers, and air defense systems within Syria.
Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of Syrian rebel forces and currently the most influential figure in Syria, responded to the Israeli attacks by appealing to the United Nations to halt the continued strikes. He stated that Syria, exhausted from prolonged conflicts, seeks no further engagement with any nation. However, Israel remains skeptical about Syria’s intentions.
Netanyahu’s visit and Israel’s military actions underscore escalating tensions in the region, raising concerns about further destabilization in the Middle East. The strategic placement of Israeli forces near Damascus signals a shift in regional dynamics, intensifying the strain on Syria’s fragile political and military structure.
The international community has been urged to intervene, with calls for dialogue and conflict resolution to prevent an extended humanitarian crisis. As the situation unfolds, the delicate balance between asserting territorial security and maintaining regional peace remains a critical challenge for all parties involved.
