TEL AVIV (dpa-AFX) – As rebels take control of Syria, the Israeli army has moved forces into the buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights. The move was made “in accordance with the assessment of the situation following the recent events in Syria,” the army said in a statement.
Troops were positioned “in the buffer zone and several other locations necessary for defense.” The aim is to “ensure the safety of the communities on the Golan Heights and the citizens of Israel,” it said.
“We emphasized that the Israeli army does not interfere in the internal events in Syria.” The military will remain in the buffer zone as long as necessary for the security of Israel and its citizens.
Israeli media reported that tanks had penetrated into the buffer zone with Syria. The German Press Agency learned from residents in the town of Kunaitra that Israeli troops had advanced a few meters into Syrian territory and fired a few shots. However, they did not reach the town of Kunaitra. Kunaitra Province borders the Golan Heights, which was annexed by Israel.
The Israeli army conquered the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War in 1967 and annexed it in 1981. According to international law, the strategically important rocky plateau is considered Syrian territory occupied by Israel. During Donald Trump’s first term as president, the United States recognized Israel’s claim to the Golan Heights. The peacekeepers of the Undof mission control an approximately 235 square kilometer buffer zone between Israel and Syria./le/DP/he