Voice of Urdu – International News in English & Urdu

Netanyahu Says Israel Close to Defeating Iran on Mount Hermon Visit — AI-generated representative image. Israeli officials and military officers stand on a rocky mountain summit overlooking the surrounding region, illustrating a h

Editorial Team

Israeli PM tours strategic Syrian summit with defense officials as Damascus condemns the trip as an illegal occupation

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "very close" to defeating Iran during a Wednesday visit to Israeli troops stationed atop Mount Hermon in Syrian territory. The strategic summit was seized by the Israel Defense Forces following the collapse of former President Bashar Assad's government.

Netanyahu traveled to the location accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, according to a video released by his office.

The remarks mark the latest escalation in Israel's stated campaign against Iran and its regional allies, delivered from Syrian soil that Damascus considers occupied. The visit underscores the deepening Israeli military footprint in Syria and rising friction with both the Syrian government and international bodies.

Syria has formally condemned the trip as a violation of its sovereignty, while a UN commission has described Israel's presence in the country as a "belligerent occupation."

Statements From the Mount Hermon Visit

Speaking from the summit, Netanyahu emphasized Israel's strategic position over the surrounding region. "Damascus is right here, Lebanon is right there, the Syrian Golan Heights are right there," he said, claiming Israel now exercises "absolute control the likes of which has never been seen before" over the area.

He said Israel will not allow a "terrorist army" to establish itself along the border before turning his remarks toward Tehran. "From these peaks, there is still work to do: The main task is to defeat the terrorist regime in Iran," Netanyahu said. "We are very close to it. We know that the entire axis will ultimately fall. We are committed to doing this, and we will do it."

Origins of the Israeli Presence in Syria

Israel seized the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and other positions inside the UN-monitored buffer zone in December 2024, after Assad's government fell. Israel initially described the deployment as temporary, but has since entrenched its presence.

During Wednesday's visit, Katz said Israeli troops are "not moving" from the "security zone." The continued military presence in Syria and southern Lebanon has also put Netanyahu at odds with Washington. In July, President Donald Trump reportedly urged the Israeli leader to withdraw from both countries, saying, "they don't want you there."

Syrian and UN Reactions

Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned Netanyahu's visit as an "illegal entry" into its territory, calling the trip "provocative" and a "blatant violation" of Syrian sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law. Damascus urged the UN and other international actors to press Israel to end its incursions.

A UN commission warned a day earlier that Israeli military activity inside Syria has become "increasingly sustained and entrenched," describing Israel's presence as a "belligerent occupation" and saying some actions against Syrian civilians could amount to war crimes. Israel rejected the findings, insisting it has no territorial ambitions in Syria and maintains the buffer zone solely for security purposes.

What Lies Ahead

Israel has signaled its forces will remain in the Syrian buffer zone for the foreseeable future, with Katz stating troops are "not moving." Syria continues to press the UN and international community to intervene and end what it considers an illegal Israeli presence.

The broader confrontation with Iran remains ongoing, with Netanyahu framing the defeat of Tehran's government as Israel's principal remaining objective from its positions on the strategic summit.