Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated on the 17th that recent Israeli military strikes against targets in southern Syria aimed to prevent Syrian regime forces from entering areas inhabited by the Druze community. The Israeli military will continue to take action to ensure the region remains 'demilitarized' and to protect the Druze population.
In a statement, he said Israel’s policy towards Syria has two core principles: first, to ensure that the area south of the Syrian capital Damascus, from the Golan Heights to the Druze Mountain region, remains 'demilitarized', and second, to protect the Druze community.
He said it is 'completely unacceptable' for Syrian regime forces to advance southwards and attack Druze residents.
He noted that he had ordered the Israeli military to carry out 'strong strikes', and it was precisely these strikes that contributed to the current ceasefire.
He emphasized that Israel exchanges peace for strength through force, 'and this will be our policy in the future'.