Israel Secures Syrian Buffer Zone After Agreement Breaks Down

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given orders to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take control of a buffer zone in Syria. This zone, located in Syrian territory, had been demilitarized as per the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. However, Netanyahu announced that this agreement has fallen apart, with Syrian soldiers leaving their posts. The IDF entered the zone on Sunday morning, with Netanyahu stating that they won't let any hostile forces get close to their border. The IDF has issued orders to fire as a deterrent if anyone tries to breach the border fence. They are also preparing for potential spillovers into Druze villages on the Syrian side. Israeli Druze communities on the Golan Heights have switched to remote learning due to these developments. Intelligence reports showed that Syria's army collapsed faster than expected. Earlier, it was believed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had stabilized his position with support from Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah. The IDF is keeping a close eye on Hezbollah's activities in Syria and has vowed to target any attempts to transfer weapons from Syria to Lebanon. Recent attacks have focused on weapons and air defense systems that could threaten Israel or end up in the hands of rebels. To deal with the situation, the IDF has reinforced troops in the Golan Heights and created closed military zones near agricultural areas. They have also given guidelines to local communities. Overnight, Israel struck a convoy of Hezbollah armored vehicles leaving Qusayr city. Qusayr has been a key route for Hezbollah's weapons and troop movements since its capture in 2013. The rebels have also taken control of Damascus, and Syria's prime minister has confirmed the government's collapse. There are reports that Assad has fled to an unknown location.