Tensions in the Northern Levant have reached new heights following a high-profile tour by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria on Wednesday. The visit, occurring nearly a year after the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime, signals Israel's tightening grip on the Golan Heights region. Accompanied by his top security cabinet, Netanyahu inspected troops and fortifications, framing the excursion as a vital measure for Israel's defense strategies in the complex post-regime landscape.
The brazen nature of the tour has sparked outrage among Arab commentators, who view the lack of a physical response from Damascus as a sign of weakness. In a broadcast detailing the incident, Egyptian journalist Osama Kamal expressed astonishment at the passive reaction from the Syrian transitional government. According to the Shorouk News, Kamal ridiculed the situation on his show 'Masaa DMC.' He compared the violation of sovereignty to a home invasion, asking indignantly: "Netanyahu, along with his Defense Minister and senior officials, are walking around inside southern Syria! It implies: 'I want to sign an agreement with you, so I enter your living room, the bathroom, and the kitchen, and stare at your world inside'... Do I have to enter your bedroom to sign an agreement?!"
According to reports confirmed by an Israeli government spokesman, Netanyahu was joined by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet director David Zini. In a video released by his office, the Prime Minister addressed soldiers stationed beyond the 1974 ceasefire line, emphasizing the "immense importance" of their offensive and defensive capabilities. He warned that their mission could "develop at any moment," a statement made amid reports of US efforts to broker a new security arrangement between Israel and Syria.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry formally condemned the "illegal visit" as a "serious violation of Syria's sovereignty" and an attempt to impose a fait accompli. However, these diplomatic protests have done little to alter the reality on the ground. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also weighed in, calling the "very public" incursion "concerning to say the least" and urging adherence to the disengagement agreement.
The visit coincides with continued violence on other fronts. During his critique, Kamal noted that despite a US-brokered truce ratified by the Security Council, recent Israeli shelling in Gaza and Khan Yunis resulted in 28 Palestinian deaths. He further highlighted a Human Rights Watch report issued Thursday, which detailed the forced displacement of over 33,000 Palestinians and the demolition of hundreds of homes during operations in early 2025. The juxtaposition of these events paints a picture of a region where traditional red lines are being erased.
Photo: GPO/Ynet