Netanyahu: We expect Syria to establish a demilitarized buffer zone

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Tuesday that he expects Syrian authorities to "establish a demilitarized buffer zone stretching from Damascus to the separation zone" with Syria, during a meeting with Israeli soldiers wounded during Friday's deadly operation in Beit Jinn, southern Syria, according to Israeli media reports.

He also stated that Israel was "determined to defend (its) communities along our borders, including on the northern border" with Syria and Lebanon.

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"What we expect from Syria is, of course, that it establishes a demilitarized buffer zone stretching from Damascus to the separation zone [de facto controlled by Israel, Ed.], and of course including the slopes and summit of Mount Hermon."

Mount Hermon is part of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range and serves as a natural border between Lebanon and Syria, with a portion located on the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel and unilaterally annexed in 1981.

In the wake of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's fall in December 2024, Israel deployed troops in the demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights, thus ending the 1974 cease-fire agreement between the two countries.

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"In a positive atmosphere and with an understanding of these principles, it is also possible to reach an agreement with the Syrians, but we will remain true to our principles under any circumstance," Netanyahu also said.

"After Oct. 7, we are determined to defend our communities along our borders, including on the northern border, and to prevent the establishment of terrorists or hostile activities against us; to protect our Druze allies; and to guarantee Israel's security against ground attacks and other attacks from areas close to the border."

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Israel against any interference in Syria that might compromise the Arab country's transition into a "prosperous state" following Friday's incursion by Israeli forces in the village of Beit Jinn, at the far south of the Damascus governorate near the occupied Quneitra area.

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"It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and genuine dialogue with Syria, that nothing interferes with Syria's progress towards becoming a prosperous state," the U.S. president said on his Truth Social platform, noting that the United States was "very satisfied with the results displayed" by Damascus.

The incursion into Beit Jinn left 13 dead, according to Damascus, while the Israeli army said the operation was to detain three members of Jamaa Islamiya, a faction allied with Hamas. As they withdrew, clashes broke out with residents, and the Israeli soldiers found themselves surrounded and came under heavy fire. Six were wounded, three of them seriously. Called in as reinforcements, Israeli aircraft carried out deadly strikes on the town. At least thirteen people were killed, including five members of the same family, including women and children, according to the official SANA agency. The attack also left 24 wounded.