Israel’s defence minister vows to keep troops in Syria during visit

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz toured troops stationed in southern Syria, reaffirming the country's commitment to maintaining a military presence there to counter threats and safeguard border communities. Damascus criticized Katz's "illegal entry" into Syria, following Israel's bombing of the abandoned Abu Duhur base in northwestern Syria, which Ankara denied.

Israeli forces have been stationed in a security zone since the fall of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, occupying a buffer zone previously monitored by the UN. Katz emphasized that Israel would remain in the security zone as long as threats persisted, ensuring the protection of Israeli communities and border regions.

Syria's foreign ministry denounced Katz's visit as a "flagrant violation" of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for international intervention to halt the "repeated violations." Israel has conducted numerous strikes in Syria since Assad's overthrow and frequently threatens to expand the security zone.