WorldSecurity and defence
Israel defence minister vows to keep troops in Syria during visit
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz visited troops in southern Syria and said Israeli forces will remain as long as threats to Israel persist. Syria condemned the visit as illegal.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made a rare visit to troops in southern Syria on Tuesday, reiterating a pledge to keep forces in the area as long as there were "threats" to Israel's security. Damascus condemned Mr. Katz's "illegal entry" into the country.
The visit came a week after Israel bombed the disused Abu Duhur base in northwestern Syria, saying it wanted to prevent Turkish troops from deploying to the facility. Ankara denied any visit to the site.
Israeli forces have been stationed in a "security zone" in southern Syria since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. They occupy what was previously a buffer zone patrolled by the United Nations.
WorldSecurity and defence
Israel defence minister vows to keep troops in Syria during visit
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz visited troops in southern Syria and said Israeli forces will remain as long as threats to Israel persist. Syria condemned the visit as illegal.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made a rare visit to troops in southern Syria on Tuesday, reiterating a pledge to keep forces in the area as long as there were "threats" to Israel's security. Damascus condemned Mr. Katz's "illegal entry" into the country.
The visit came a week after Israel bombed the disused Abu Duhur base in northwestern Syria, saying it wanted to prevent Turkish troops from deploying to the facility. Ankara denied any visit to the site.
Israeli forces have been stationed in a "security zone" in southern Syria since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. They occupy what was previously a buffer zone patrolled by the United Nations.