Egypt issued a strong condemnation Monday of Israel’s seizure of the demilitarised zone (DMZ) along the Syrian border and adjacent command posts. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the action constitutes an occupation of Syrian territory, a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty, and a clear breach of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
The statement emphasized that Israel’s actions contravene international law and violate Syria’s territorial integrity. It further asserted that Israel is exploiting Syria’s current instability to expand its occupation and impose a new fait accompli, a clear violation of international law. Egypt called on the UN Security Council and the international community to act decisively against Israel’s aggression and ensure Syria’s sovereignty over its territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli military had seized control of the buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights, claiming the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria had “collapsed” following the rebel takeover of the country. He stated that he ordered the Israeli army to enter the buffer zone and “commanding positions nearby” from the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan. “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” Netanyahu said.
The Syrian Golan Heights, a rocky plateau southwest of Damascus, were occupied by Israel in 1967 and unilaterally annexed in 1981, a move not internationally recognised.
Meanwhile, in Damascus, life slowly returned to normal Monday following the weekend’s rebel incursion and the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. While most shops and public institutions remained closed, and some citizens celebrated in public squares, civilian traffic resumed, though public transport was unavailable. Long queues formed outside bakeries and food stores.
Syria’s prime minister reported that most cabinet ministers continued to work from their Damascus offices. Streams of refugees began returning to Syria from neighbouring countries, anticipating a more peaceful future.
However, challenges emerged for the rebel alliance, which now controls much of the country. The alliance, led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who has since distanced himself from the extremist group, has pledged representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command stated Monday that they would not dictate women’s dress.
