The move comes amid further efforts to protect the Syrian Druze, whom Islamists have recently targeted.
By Ehud Amiton/TPS
Israeli soldiers in the Syrian Golan raided the former Syrian Army headquarters responsible for Mount Hermon under the former regime, destroying or confiscating large amounts of weapons, the Israel Defense Forces said on Monday.
The move comes amid recent Israeli airstrikes near Damascus to protect Druze from surging sectarian violence.
“IDF forces continue to operate against terrorist infrastructures in the Syrian region to protect the security of the citizens of the State of Israel and the residents of the Golan Heights in particular,” the IDF said.
Troops uncovered weapons, including cannons, launchers, mortars, rockets, explosive charges, and mines.
Mount Hermon is the highest point in the Golan Heights.
Israel sent forces into the 235 sq. km (91 sq. miles) buffer zone to prevent Syrian rebels from approaching the border when the regime of Bashar Assad collapsed in December.
Israel also launched waves of airstrikes on Syrian army assets and Iranian stockpiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of radical Islamists.
The move into the demilitarized zone was coordinated with peacekeepers from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
אותרה והושמדה המפקדה המרכזית של המשטר הסורי הישן בכתר החרמון: תיעודים מפעילות כוחות חטיבת ׳ההרים׳ (810) במרחב סוריה
לפרטים המלאים👇https://t.co/cDWz6zPvaX pic.twitter.com/a2oWvd03yy
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 5, 2025
Israel considers the 1974 ceasefire agreement void until order is restored in Syria.
While Israeli forces have briefly entered the buffer zone in the past, December’s takeover marked the first time since its establishment that the IDF set up positions there.
The demilitarized zone was established with a ceasefire in 1974 that ended the Yom Kippur War.
Meanwhile, sectarian violence in the Damascus area has continued between Islamic gunmen linked to the regime of President Ahmed al-Sharaa and local Druze.
Forty-two Druze are said to have been killed in more than a week of clashes.
Israel launched warning strikes on Wednesday and Friday.
Israel’s Druze community of 152,000 has been calling on the government to take stronger measures to protect their co-religionists in southern Syria.
Around 40,000 Druze live in the southern Syrian provinces of Quneitra, Da’ara and Sweida under Israeli protection.
Netanyahu has called for the demilitarization of southern Syria.
