Israeli Defense Minister: We Will Remain in Mount Sheikh to Protect the Golan

SadaNews - Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed that the Israeli army will continue to be stationed in Mount Sheikh and in the necessary security areas to protect the Golan and Galilee communities from any potential threats, indicating that this is the lesson learned from the events of October 7.

Katz explained that Israel will also continue to protect the Druze community in Syria, emphasizing that a potential agreement does not mean withdrawing forces from sensitive areas, despite what media reports have circulated regarding the 1974 ceasefire talks.

The Israeli army currently occupies nine settlement and military sites in Syrian territory, including seven in the Liberation Front area and two in Mount Sheikh, with preparations to establish additional sites, reflecting Israel's commitment to maintain military positioning under the pretext of ensuring the strategic security of the Golan and the border region with Syria.

Katz's statements come as Israel seeks to reach a security agreement with Syria through direct talks mediated by the United States, according to Israeli Channel 12.

Reports indicate that the two parties are nearing the signing of the expected agreement by the end of September, with the sponsorship of Washington and Gulf states.

The agreement aims to ensure the stability of Syria, keep it away from Iranian influence, and reduce threats on Israel's northern border, according to the Israeli report.

At the same time, Israeli military incursions continue in southern Syria, where a force reached the town of Beit Jinn in the countryside of Damascus, about 50 kilometers from the capital, and took control of Tal Bat Al-Warda in Mount Sheikh before spreading throughout the town and firing into the air.

Similar movements have been observed in the Quneitra countryside, where occupation forces infiltrated Al-Rafid town and established a checkpoint at its eastern entrance, before withdrawing from Bureika two hours after entering.

Local reports indicate that Israel's nearly daily incursions include the towns of Koodna, Al-Asha, Al-Rafid, Tranja, and Jabata al-Khashab, where forces are leveling agricultural lands and creating new trenches, raising concerns among residents about the expansion of these military movements.