Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s high-profile visit to Israeli troops stationed in the buffer zone inside southern Syria on November 19, 2025, has triggered a cascade of condemnation from Damascus and drawn pointed criticism from the international community. The visit, which included a large entourage of senior Israeli officials, comes at a time when direct talks between Israel and Syria over a potential security deal have ground to a halt, raising fresh doubts about the prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough in the war-torn region.
Netanyahu’s journey to the buffer zone—territory Israel seized in the aftermath of the dramatic collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024—was anything but a routine inspection. According to the Israeli Government Press Office, the prime minister was accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet Director David Zini, National Security Council Acting Director Gil Reich, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, and several high-ranking military commanders. The group observed the sector, held security discussions, and met with both regular and reserve soldiers, with Netanyahu praising their efforts and answering their questions.
Israel’s expanded presence in Syria began in earnest on December 8, 2024, when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) took control of approximately 400 square kilometers of territory, including the strategically vital summit of Mount Hermon. This move followed years of tension and sporadic conflict along the Golan Heights, which Israel originally seized from Syria during the 1967 war. The IDF’s recent expansion marked a significant change: for the first time, Israeli troops now occupy the summit itself, not just the lower peaks.
The timing of Netanyahu’s visit was particularly striking. It came just days after reports emerged that negotiations between Israel and Syria for a landmark security agreement had reached an impasse. Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who assumed office after Assad’s ouster, had traveled to Washington and met with U.S. President Donald Trump on November 12, 2025, sparking hopes of a thaw. Al-Sharaa confirmed that direct talks with Israel were underway, with the aim of securing a permanent settlement. However, by mid-November, Israel’s Kan broadcaster cited an unnamed government official stating the talks were at a “dead end.”
So, what caused the breakdown? According to The Times of Israel and other outlets, Israel has refused to withdraw its troops from the newly occupied Syrian territory without what it calls a “comprehensive peace agreement.” Details remain murky, but leaked reports from September 2025 suggested Israel demanded the creation of a demilitarized zone southwest of Damascus, encompassing Suwayda, Deraa, and Quneitra governorates. In exchange, Israel would gradually pull back its forces—except from the summit of Mount Hermon. Another Israeli proposal, reported by Reuters, called for a “humanitarian corridor” between Israel and the Druze-populated southern region of Suwayda, as well as maintaining an aerial corridor to Iran for potential future strikes. These demands were not met with enthusiasm in Damascus.
Netanyahu’s public remarks during the visit underscored Israel’s priorities. He told Israeli troops their presence in Syrian territory was of “immense importance,” emphasizing the need to “safeguard our Druze allies” and protect Israel’s northern border. Al Arabiya quoted Netanyahu as saying, “We attach great importance to our capabilities here, both defensive and offensive, to protect our Druze allies, and above all to protect the State of Israel and its northern border opposite the Golan Heights.” This rhetoric reflects a pattern: Israel has repeatedly positioned itself as a defender of minority groups in Syria, particularly the Druze, while also using their protection as a justification for its military presence.
The reaction from Syria was swift and unequivocal. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned Netanyahu’s visit as “illegitimate” and “a grave violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” In a statement carried by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), officials declared, “This visit represents a new attempt to impose a fait accompli that contradicts relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and falls within the occupation’s policies aimed at entrenching its aggression and continuing its violations of Syrian territory.”
Other nations quickly echoed Syria’s outrage. Jordan, France, and Qatar all issued statements denouncing the visit, warning that it threatened regional stability. Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations joined the chorus, labeling Israel’s actions on the Golan Heights a threat to the region. At the United Nations, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called Netanyahu’s “very public visit” to the buffer zone “concerning, to say the least.” He referenced the recently passed UN Security Council Resolution 2799, which “called for the full sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria.”
UN officials have also warned that Israel’s activities in the buffer zone are undermining the 1974 agreement that established the ceasefire line between Syria and Israel. On November 20, Najat Rochdi, the UN deputy special envoy for Syria, told the Security Council that Israel’s operations were weakening the agreement. “I received a strong appeal from [Syria’s] Foreign Minister [Asaad] al-Shaibani for the UN to act to put an end to these violations,” Rochdi said, urging the Council to assume its responsibilities under the agreement.
The United States, Israel’s principal ally, has offered a more nuanced response. During President al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House, President Trump praised the Syrian leader, stating, “We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful, because that’s part of the Middle East. We have peace now in the Middle East—the first time that anyone can remember that ever happening.” Since Assad’s fall, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf states have provided economic support to Syria’s transitional government, with Saudi Arabia recently announcing a reconstruction program.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has made it clear that the IDF will remain on Mount Hermon’s peak and in the security zone for an “unlimited amount of time.” Israeli officials have insisted that unless Syria agrees to a full peace deal and normalization, Israel will not withdraw from the nine posts it seized after Assad’s fall. This stance has left negotiations at a standstill and Israel increasingly isolated diplomatically.
Despite a slight reduction in border tensions—thanks in part to IDF raids in July 2025 that detained Iranian-linked cells near the Golan—suspicion remains high. Israeli media have reported detentions of both IDF soldiers and Syrians allegedly involved in weapons smuggling from Syria. Russian military officials have also made their presence felt in the region, visiting areas near the Golan just days before Netanyahu’s visit.
As the situation stands, Israel appears committed to maintaining its expanded buffer zone, citing security concerns and the protection of minority groups. Critics, however, see this as an attempt to entrench its military presence and avoid meaningful compromise. As writer and researcher Elia Ayoub told Al Jazeera earlier this year, “The Israelis believe that having weaker neighbours, as in states that aren’t really able to function, is beneficial for them because, in that context, they’re the strongest actor.” Whether Israel’s ultimate aim is to divide Syria or simply hold onto its buffer zone remains uncertain, but the fallout from Netanyahu’s visit has made clear that the road to peace is as rocky as ever.
With the region’s future hanging in the balance, the world watches closely, wondering whether the current standoff will lead to negotiation—or further conflict.
