Visiting Syria border, Netanyahu claims credit for process that led to Assad’s fall

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims credit for starting the chain of events that led to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

“This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East,” says Netanyahu during a visit to Mount Bental on Israel’s border with Syria. “The Assad regime is a central link in Iran’s axis of evil — this regime has fallen. ”

“This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime,” Netanyahu argues, referencing the 14 months of combat against Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies since October 7 of last year.

“This has created a chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime,” he adds.

Netanyahu warns that alongside new opportunities, the flight of Assad from Syria also brings risks.

“We are acting first and foremost to protect our border,” says the premier. “This area has been controlled for nearly 50 years by a buffer zone agreed upon in 1974, the Separation of Forces Agreement. This agreement has collapsed, the Syrian soldiers have abandoned their positions.”

Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to seize the buffer zone yesterday, he says, adding that Israel will not allow any hostile forces to set up on the border.

He hearkens back to the “Good Neighbor” policy Israel pursued at the height of the Syrian civil war, saying that Israel will pursue a similar policy of giving humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians while avoiding taking an active part in internal conflicts. “Hundreds of Syrian children were born here in Israel,” he says.

Netanyahu stresses that Israel is also extending a hand in peace to Druze, Kurds, Christians and Muslims in Syria.