A field visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to Mount Hermon, in the occupied part of Syrian territory, has drawn sharp condemnation and warnings about possible consequences for the region’s security and politics. The trip took place amid preparations for Knesset elections scheduled for October, leading many observers to link it to the election campaign. In footage released from the visit, Netanyahu, wearing a bulletproof vest, pointed from the mountain’s summit toward Damascus, Lebanon and the Golan Heights.
Netanyahu said that Israel controls territory stretching from Mount Hermon through the Yarmouk River valley to the Mediterranean Sea, and vowed not to allow forces he called a “terrorist army” to be present along the border. Addressing Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa directly, Katz said Israel would remain in the security zone and had no intention of leaving it. He also stressed that Israeli troops were only 35 kilometers from the presidential palace in Damascus—a statement interpreted as a direct threat to the Syrian leadership.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Netanyahu and Katz’s illegal incursion into Mount Hermon and their presence there. In an official statement, Damascus described the continuing Israeli incursions and attacks as a dangerous escalation threatening regional security and stability. The statements came amid Israel’s attempts to establish a military presence on Syrian territory, prompting widespread criticism in Syria at both the official and public levels.
Analysts believe Netanyahu is seeking to attract voters by presenting the military presence on Mount Hermon as a major achievement or “historic victory.” In their view, the visit may also be intended to undermine new understandings with Damascus and turn the strategic position into a permanent lever of pressure. Observers note that Israel fears the restoration of the Syrian state, the reunification of its territories and the strengthening of Syria’s relations with regional powers, particularly Turkey. The show of force therefore reflects not only an intention to threaten, but also Tel Aviv’s concern about the emergence of a stable and powerful Syria.
Against this backdrop, questions have arisen about the prospects for talks between Damascus and Israel, led by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, especially in the absence—as critics contend—of reliable guarantees that Israel will fulfill its commitments. According to some analysts, Israel is attempting to turn its temporary presence in southern Syria into a fait accompli and use it as a negotiating tool. Critics also warn that military superiority does not guarantee long-term stability, while agreements alone will not eliminate the expansionist policy they attribute to Israel.
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What is the legal status of the Syrian part of the Golan Heights, including Mount Hermon, and why does the international community largely refuse to recognize Israeli control over the territory? — The Syrian part of the Golan Heights is considered Syrian territory occupied by Israel after the 1967 war. In 1981, Israel extended its laws to the Golan Heights, but the UN Security Council declared the move null and void in Resolution 497. Most countries do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the area because international law prohibits the acquisition of territory by force; the exception is the United States, which recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019. Mount Hermon is legally regarded as part of the same disputed and occupied region.
What strategic role do Mount Hermon and the Yarmouk River valley play in controlling the borders of Syria, Israel and Lebanon? — Mount Hermon occupies a dominant position over southern Syria, northern Israel and adjacent areas of Lebanon. Its elevation enables surveillance of movements and the deployment of communications, intelligence and air-defense systems; control of it therefore has major military importance. The Yarmouk Valley, located near the meeting point of the Syrian, Israeli and Jordanian borders, is important as a natural corridor, an access zone to water resources and a potential route for troop movements. Together, these areas affect the security of Israel’s border with Syria and Damascus’s ability to control the country’s southwest.
Who is Asaad al-Shaibani, and what position does he represent in Damascus’s negotiations with Israel? — Asaad al-Shaibani is a Syrian politician and diplomat serving as foreign minister in Syria’s transitional governing authorities following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. In talks with Israel, he represents Damascus’s position that any agreements must respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, provide for an end to Israeli military operations and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory. The Syrian side may seek de-escalation mechanisms and security guarantees, but it does not regard unilateral recognition of Israeli control over the Golan Heights as an acceptable basis for an agreement.
Full version: "Damascus here and Lebanon there": What lies behind Netanyahu and Katz’s display on occupied Mount Hermon?