Netanyahu: Israel will not allow Syria to enter the southern part of Damascus
Stockholm, February 24 (Hibya) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel would not allow the new Syrian army or the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group to enter the southern part of Damascus. The Israeli government made it clear that Israeli forces would remain in some areas of southern Syria for an indefinite period.
Speaking at a military graduation ceremony yesterday, Netanyahu said: "Take note: we will not allow HTS forces or the new Syrian army to enter the southern part of Damascus.
We demand the complete disarmament of the new regime forces in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Suwayda in southern Syria. Likewise, we will not tolerate any threats against the Druze community in southern Syria."
Formerly linked to al-Qaeda, HTS took control of Damascus in early December through a swift attack that led to the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Shortly after Assad’s regime collapsed, Israeli forces took control of the demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, despite widespread condemnation of the act as a violation of international law.
Syria demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its territory. The United Nations was among the institutions that stated that Israel’s entry into Syrian territory was a violation of international agreements and also called for the withdrawal of the troops.
Albania News Agency
Facebook
Tweeter
Whatsapp
