Israel's Defense Minister Rejects Syrian Claims on Golan Heights

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a addressed the UN General Assembly, demanding the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory and asserting that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian. He stated that Damascus seeks a return to pre-1967 lines and insists on the implementation of the 1974 disengagement agreement. Al-Shar'a declared that the Golan Heights, captured in 1967, are Syrian and that any annexation decisions are invalid under UN resolutions. He also called for the withdrawal of "occupying troops" from Syrian areas entered after December 8, 2024, and threatened that any violation of Syrian sovereignty would be stopped.

Prior to his UN speech, al-Shar'a had spoken of potential peace with Israel but linked progress to Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Syria. In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz firmly stated that Israel has no intention of weakening its northern defenses. Katz declared the Golan Heights are under Israeli sovereignty and are an "inseparable part" of Israel forever.

The Israeli minister emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will not leave Mount Hermon or the security zone in Syria. Katz argued that the 1974 agreement has lost its relevance due to Syria becoming an Iranian base and a threat to Israel's border. He stated, "We will remain on Mount Hermon and in the security zone as long as the jihadist threat to the border and Israeli communities exists."

Katz further warned that if a new attack originates from Syrian territory, the captured area "will remain Israeli forever" according to the laws of war.