Conflict & Security
Israel says troops in Syria are 'not moving'
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday that Israeli troops stationed in southern Syria would not withdraw.
Katz made the remarks during a visit to the soldiers with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We are here sending a very strong and clear message to the President of Syria, who sits 35 kilometres away down there in his palace in Damascus: we are here on Mount Hermon, we are in the security zone, and we are not moving from here,” Katz said.
Update
The defence minister was Israel Katz.
Katz addressed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a visit to Israeli soldiers stationed in southern Syria.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also on the visit.
Katz said the message was being sent from Mount Hermon and the security zone.
Katz said Israeli troops were 35 kilometres from Damascus.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 15:43:21 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .