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Netanyahu announced that the IDF had been ordered to take command of strategic positions within the buffer zone, which lies on the Israeli-controlled side of the Golan Heights. “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” Netanyahu declared in a statement.

Syrian government forces had abandoned their positions in Quneitra province on Saturday, including areas within the buffer zone. The following day, the IDF instructed residents of five Syrian villages in the region to remain indoors as a precautionary measure.

The Israeli action in the buffer zone comes on the heels of the Syrian rebels’ dramatic takeover of Damascus, which was reportedly led by forces from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist opposition group. HTS fighters appeared on Syrian state television early Sunday morning, proclaiming the regime’s fall and declaring Syria “free” from Assad’s rule.

Netanyahu described the collapse of Assad’s regime as a “historic day” for the Middle East but also warned of the risks ahead. “While this presents a great opportunity, it is also fraught with significant dangers,” he said. The prime minister suggested that Israel’s recent military strikes against Iran and Hezbollah, Assad’s key allies, had played a role in destabilizing the region.

While expressing hope for peaceful relations with Syria’s emerging new leadership, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would take all necessary measures to defend its borders. “If we can establish peaceful relations with the new forces in Syria, that’s our desire,” he said. “But if not, we will do whatever it takes to protect Israel and its security.”

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