Red line crossed: In a brazen power move, Israeli PM enters Syrian buffer zone, solidifies military occupation
By zoeysky // 2025-11-23
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  • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made a highly provocative visit to the occupied Syrian territory. This trip, which included top officials, was condemned by Syria as a severe violation of its sovereignty and a major obstacle to peace.
  • This marks a significant escalation following the ousting of Syria's former president. Netanyahu celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and Israeli forces used the ensuing political vacuum to seize a strategic buffer zone beyond the long-occupied Golan Heights.
  • Israel has declared a key 1974 UN agreement void and is projecting military power. Netanyahu told troops that Israel must "maintain and project strength" deep inside Syrian territory, solidifying its control and conducting regular ground incursions.
  • The incident caused a major diplomatic confrontation at the UN Security Council. Syria's ambassador condemned the "provocative tour" and called for UN action, while Israel's ambassador deflected by demanding that Syria prove it is moving away from extremism.
  • The visit has severely damaged trust and stalled peace talks. Security negotiations are stalled because Israel refuses to withdraw from the newly captured territories. The new Syrian president, a former al-Qaeda commander, insists any deal depends on an Israeli withdrawal, casting a dark shadow over the prospects for a near-term agreement.
In a move denounced as a severe provocation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Syrian territory occupied by Israeli forces, underscoring a dramatic and aggressive shift in the region's power dynamics. The visit, which included top diplomatic and security officials, was strongly condemned by the Syrian government as a violation of its sovereignty and a major obstacle to potential peace negotiations. Netanyahu's recent trip marks a significant escalation in Israel’s posture toward its northern neighbor. It follows the recent ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an event Netanyahu has publicly celebrated and taken credit for. In the political vacuum that followed, Israeli forces capitalized by pushing beyond the long-occupied Golan Heights to capture a strategic buffer zone. As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, this area, including parts of the Quneitra and Daraa governorates, was originally established under a 1974 United Nations (UN)-brokered disengagement agreement to prevent military confrontation. With that pact now declared null and void by Israel, its troops have solidified their presence and regularly conduct ground incursions into surrounding villages.

Netanyahu tells IDF that Israel must "maintain and project strength" in Syrian territory

During the visit, Netanyahu conveyed to Israeli troops that the military capability in the region, both for defense and offense, is of immense importance. The message was clear: Israel intends to maintain and project its strength deep inside Syrian territory. The response from Damascus was swift and severe. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the visit in the strongest terms, labeling it an illegal act and a serious violation of Syria’s sovereignty. At the United Nations Security Council, Syrian Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi strongly condemned what he called a "provocative tour," which he said epitomizes Israel's ongoing aggression. He called on the UN to take firm action to halt these violations, end the occupation and enforce international resolutions. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon sidestepped the issue and instead lectured Syria, demanding it to prove that it was moving away from extremism and could protect minority groups. Olabi fired back, placing the burden of proof squarely on Israel. He pointed out that Israel has launched over a thousand strikes on Syria, which has responded with zero signs of aggression and has consistently engaged in constructive diplomatic efforts. This confrontation occurs against a backdrop of stalled security talks between the two nations. The negotiations have reportedly hit a wall because Israel refused to withdraw from the buffer zone and other territories it has captured since December 2024. New Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander, has stated that any potential security deal is entirely contingent upon an Israeli withdrawal to its pre-December borders. Analysts suggest that while the testy diplomatic exchanges may not completely derail the negotiation process, they reveal the profound lack of trust between Damascus and Jerusalem. Netanyahu's high-profile visit to the occupied land is seen as a deliberate act of provocation, reinforcing his government's hardline stance and casting a dark shadow over the prospects for a near-term agreement. The event solidifies the perception that Israel is less interested in diplomacy and more focused on asserting its military dominance in a region it now considers fundamentally changed. Watch this clip of a deadly explosion in the Syrian city of Idlib. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: News.Antiwar.com AlJazeera.com TimesOfIsrael.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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