Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed U.S. President Donald Trump that the Israeli military will maintain its presence in the demilitarized zone in southern Syria as long as the threat from "jihadist groups" persists. This revelation came during their recent meeting at the White House, according to Axios, citing an Israeli official.
The report states that Netanyahu emphasized Israel's current decision not to withdraw from the demilitarized zone, linking the continued Israeli military presence to the security situation in southern Syria.
This stance follows the entrance of Israeli forces into the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights after political changes in Syria in late 2024, which saw the rise of interim President Ahmad Al-Shara. Israel also conducted a series of airstrikes targeting former Syrian military sites.
Israel asserts that the deployment aims to protect its towns and settlements in the Golan Heights and to prevent weapons and military equipment from reaching the new authorities in Damascus.
Previously, Axios reported that President Trump had requested Netanyahu to begin withdrawing Israeli forces from Syrian territory and consider a similar action in Lebanon. U.S. and Israeli officials mentioned that the continued Israeli military presence within Syria might exacerbate tensions and lead to further escalation.