Israeli Troops to Stay on Mount Hermon This Winter

Mount Hermon, a strategic peak in the buffer zone between Israel and Syria, will see Israeli troops stay throughout the winter. This is due to the importance of the peak's security in the current Syrian situation, as noted by Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz. The troops are there to prepare for the tough weather conditions ahead. The United Nations has raised concerns about Israel's presence, seeing it as a violation of Syria's sovereignty. Israel, however, claims its actions are temporary and defensive. On Friday, Katz shared a photo of himself with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, looking at Mount Hermon with binoculars. He called this an "exciting historical moment, " as the peak has been under Israeli control for the first time in 51 years. Netanyahu's office explained that the fall of Syria's Assad regime left a gap on the border that Israel can't let jihadi groups fill. The Golan Heights, occupied by Israel after the 1967 war, is where Mount Hermon stands tall at over 9, 000 feet. Its seizure by Israel has faced criticism, with some accusing the country of using the Syrian situation for a land grab. Meanwhile, Syrians celebrated the ousting of Assad with mass rallies on Friday. The leader of the main rebel group, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, encouraged peaceful celebrations to focus on rebuilding the country.