The Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesman, Avichay Adraee, called on residents of the Syrian localities of Ofania, Quneitra, Hamidieh, Samdaniya al Gharbiya and Qahtaniya “to stay in their homes and not go out until further notice.” “The fighting in your areas has forced us to intervene, and we don't want to hurt you,” he said on X.
The Israeli army has taken control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, on the Golan Heights, in order to “prevent the rebels from conquering the region,” according to Haaretz. Several regional media reports had indicated earlier that the Assad regime's army had withdrawn from its positions earlier in the day.
And shortly before, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had claimed to have ordered the Israeli army to “take control” of the Golan buffer zone as well as “adjacent strategic positions.” “This area has been under the control of a buffer zone established under the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement for nearly 50 years. This agreement with Syria “has collapsed,” said Netanyahu, adding that Israel “will not allow any hostile forces to establish themselves on our border.”