Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz, joined by Golan Regional Council head Uri Kalner, visited Mount Bental in the northern Golan Heights this morning (Sunday), at a strategic observation point overlooking the Syrian border.
During the tour, the Prime Minister received a comprehensive briefing from Northern Command Commander Major General Ori Gordin and Division 210 Commander Brigadier General Yair Paley. The briefing covered the situation in Syria, the reinforcement of IDF forces along the border, and the operational preparedness for continued security actions.
Netanyahu on the Fall of Assad’s Regime: “This is a Historic Day in the Middle East”
Earlier today, it was reported that Assad’s regime had fallen after a war with rebels who successfully took control of Damascus overnight, capturing key government buildings, communication stations, and the airport. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country to an undisclosed location. Security sources in the country reported that his private plane crashed minutes after taking off from the Damascus area, with significant concerns for his life.
Netanyahu: “Assad’s Regime is a Central Link in Iran’s Axis of Evil”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the developments on the Syrian border this morning, saying, “This is a historic day in 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 inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, Assad’s main supporters.”
The Prime Minister stated that these developments create important opportunities for Israel, alongside risks that require preparation. “First and foremost, we are acting to defend our border,” Netanyahu noted. He added that he instructed the IDF yesterday to secure the buffer zone on the Syrian border to carry out necessary defense missions. “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” the Prime Minister stressed.
Netanyahu also emphasized Israel’s “Good Neighbor” policy, which included establishing a field hospital that assisted thousands of victims of the Syrian civil war and taking in injured individuals, including children born in Israel. “We extend this same hand of peace to our Druze neighbors – first and foremost to them, as they are the 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.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz: “The Fall of Assad is a Severe Blow to Iran’s Axis of Evil”
The Defense Minister, who also attended the visit, addressed the dramatic events in Syria, saying, “The fall of Assad is a severe blow to Iran’s axis of evil, which has made it its goal to destroy the State of Israel. One by one, the tentacles of this octopus are being severed.”
He added that all actions and efforts are being made to “prevent a return to the situation of October 6 – not in the Golan Heights and not anywhere else.”
