Israeli PM orders military to ‘seize’ Syria buffer zone

Sub : IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to seize the demilitarized buffer zone along the border with Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
This move follows the collapse of the 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria, which had previously governed the security arrangements in the region.
With the collapse of Assad’s regime and the shifting balance of power in Syria, Israel is particularly concerned about militant activity and the potential for Iranian expansion in the region.

About the Buffer zone:

The Golan Heights buffer zone, also referred to as the Area of Separation, is a demilitarized zone established between Israel and Syria under the supervision of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
It was created following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, as part of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement brokered by the United States.
Since then, it has been a point of tension between the two countries and is monitored by UN peacekeepers.

Israeli Occupation of the Golan Heights:

Israel occupied the Golan Heights in 1967 during the Six-Day War, and annexed the territory in 1981, a move that has not been recognized by the international community.
Since then, Israel has maintained a military presence in the region.
The Golan Heights provides Israel with a strategic military advantage, offering a high vantage point.