Israel deploys troops in Golan Heights buffer zone amid Syrian tensions

Tel Aviv: The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had deployed forces in the demilitarised buffer zone along its northern border with Syria to enhance security for residents of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. The move came with an assurance that Israel was not interfering in Syria’s internal affairs.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed the region, a move not recognized by most of the international community, which considers the territory occupied. A ceasefire agreement established a buffer zone between the two nations, prohibiting military presence or activity from either side. United Nations peacekeepers have been patrolling this area since 1974.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, expressed optimism about the political shift in Syria. In a written statement, Abdi welcomed the potential for a “new Syria based on democracy and justice” following the fall of the “authoritarian regime in Damascus.” The Kurdish-led group has maintained a strong presence in northeastern Syria, where it has engaged in conflicts with both ISIS and Turkish-backed militias over the years.

With PTI inputs