After the collapse of Assad’s regime and the retreat of Syrian Army forces, IDF’s Sayeret Shaldag unit captured the Syrian side of Mount Hermon today (Sunday). Journalist Doron Kadosh reported that Northern Command Commander Major General Ori Gordin and Training Command Commander Major General David Zini visited the IDF fighters at the summit. This marks the first time since the Yom Kippur War that the IDF has maintained a presence in this area.
IDF Spokesperson Issues Warning to Residents of Southern Syria and Nearby Villages
The IDF Spokesperson in Arabic issued an urgent warning this afternoon to residents in southern Syria in the following villages and towns: Ovania, Quneitra, Al-Hamidiya, Al-Samdania Al-Gharbiya, and Al-Qataniya. “The fighting in your area requires the IDF to move, and we do not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must stay in your homes and not leave until further notice,” the message stated.
Prime Minister and Defense Minister Visit the Syrian Border
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz visited Mount Bental in the northern Golan Heights this morning, a strategic observation point overlooking the Syrian border.
Netanyahu addressed the developments on the Syrian border and said: “This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East. Assad’s regime is a central link in Iran’s axis of evil – this regime has fallen. This is a direct result of the blows we dealt to Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of Assad’s regime.”
The Prime Minister stated that the developments create significant opportunities for Israel, alongside risks that need to be addressed. “First and foremost, we are acting to protect our border,” Netanyahu noted. He also said he instructed the IDF yesterday to secure the buffer zone on the Syrian border to carry out the required defense missions. “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” he emphasized.
Netanyahu also highlighted Israel’s “Good Neighbor” policy, which included establishing a field hospital that assisted thousands of victims of the Syrian civil war and taking in wounded individuals, including children born in Israel. “We extend the same hand of peace to our Druze neighbors – first and foremost to them, as they are brothers of our Druze citizens in Israel. We also extend a hand of peace to Kurds, Christians, and Muslims who want to live in peace with Israel.”
The Highest Mountain in Israel
Mount Hermon is the highest mountain in Israel, and its area is divided between Israel and Lebanon. The summit of Mount Hermon, which stands at 2,814 meters above sea level, is located on the border between Syria and Lebanon, approximately 14 kilometers northeast of Israeli outposts. The highest peak within Israeli territory is a dome 2,236 meters high, located west of Mitzpe Shlagim (2,224 meters) and northeast of the upper cable car station of the ski site.
