Israel insists during talks with Syria: Southern Syria must remain demilitarized

Israel is insisting in its negotiations with Syria that the southern region of Syria remain demilitarized, according to a report aired on Wednesday on KAN News. During a meeting last week between Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Israel made it clear that this is a red line for them.

"The entire area between Sweida and Damascus must remain demilitarized," said an Israeli official familiar with the talks between the two countries, speaking to KAN News. Simultaneously, the United States emphasized the importance of maintaining the ceasefire agreement in the area, with all parties acting as guarantors.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa agreed to a ceasefire on July 19, as announced by U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Lebanon, Tom Barrack.

In a post on his 𝕏 account, Barrack said the agreement was reached with U.S. support and has the backing of Turkey, Jordan, and neighboring countries. The U.S. envoy called on Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to lay down their arms and build, together with other minorities, a new and unified Syrian identity that would lead them to peace and prosperity with their neighbors.

Two days earlier, a local clash broke out in southern Syria between a Sunni Bedouin clan and the Druze community. Forces loyal to the al-Sharaa regime intervened and reportedly tried to separate the armed factions. Prime Minister Netanyahu released a video addressing Israel’s airstrikes in Syria.

“We established a clear policy: the area south of Damascus, from the Golan to the Druze Mountain region, must remain demilitarized, and the Druze must be protected,” he said.

“These two conditions were violated by the Damascus regime – it sent troops south of Damascus into the demilitarized zone and began massacring Druze civilians,” Netanyahu explained, referring to the confrontation earlier in July. “Therefore, I instructed the IDF to take action. The Air Force struck the militias, Syrian army armored vehicles, and even the Ministry of Defense in Damascus. As a result of this decisive action, a ceasefire was established, and Syrian forces withdrew back to Damascus.”