Defense Minister Israel Katz visited IDF commanders and troops at the summit of Mount Hermon in Syria today and held a situational assessment with senior IDF officials in the sector. During the visit, Katz declared that IDF forces would remain in the area as long as threats to Israel emanate from it.
The visit was attended by Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, Northern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, head of the IDF’s Syria Directorate Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, 210th Division Commander Brig. Gen. Yair Peli, Defense Minister’s Military Secretary Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim, and additional commanders.
Katz received a comprehensive briefing from IDF commanders and praised the commanders and troops, both active-duty and reserve, for their activities in the sector.
“We are here at the summit of Mount Hermon, where the Syrian Hermon outpost used to be. Today, IDF forces are here and throughout Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, and throughout the entire security zone," Katz said.
He said that from the location, the forces “look down on Damascus, 35 kilometers away; look down on the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon and Hezbollah’s stronghold; and, of course, watch over and protect the communities of the Golan Heights and the Galilee."
The Defense Minister addressed the threats posed from the Syrian side of the border: “We are facing jihadist forces that are here on the other side-some within the Syrian regime, some in various terrorist organizations. From every direction, their goal is to attack the State of Israel."
“The IDF, which is here and will remain here and will not move from here, ensures that these things will never happen again. That is the central lesson of October 7," he said.
Katz noted that the IDF operates routinely in the sector against various threats. “There is daily activity here to thwart threats, to thwart remnants of the old regime, and to prevent dangerous organization by the new regime."
He also used the visit to deliver a direct message to the Syrian president.
“The message is clear to the president of Syria as well: When you wake up in the morning in your palace in Damascus and look up at Mount Hermon and see the IDF, you know that we are here to protect our communities and our border," Katz said. “As long as there are threats, the IDF will remain here to ensure our security. That is what we have done, and that is what we intend to do in the future as well."
The Defense Minister then addressed Turkish involvement in Syria and made clear that Israel had acted to prevent a military presence that could endanger its security interests.
“We acted against a Turkish attempt to establish itself in Syria while endangering Israel’s security interests. We made our position clear, and we will continue to stand by it in the future," he said.
Katz added that Israel had also acted against the military infrastructure left behind by the Assad regime.
“We acted to ensure that Syria would not pose a threat to the State of Israel. We destroyed the entire strategic infrastructure of Assad’s army in a strike lasting several days."
According to Katz, the IDF continues to operate in the area against threats: “We are dealing with the threats here to ensure security, and that is what we will continue to do."