In a meeting ealier today (Thursday), Netanyahu told U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that Israel plans to temporarily seize control of the Syrian buffer zone.
The announcement came during talks that brought together Israel's top security brass – including the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet – with Sullivan's team ahead of his broader Middle East tour.
Netanyahu said the buffer zone would remain under Israeli control until a force capable of enforcing the 1974 Disengagement Agreement is in place. The meeting also touched on protecting Syrian minorities, particularly the Kurds, who have long maintained quiet ties with Israel.
Even though it was not officially discussed, Sullivan's visit comes as Washington pushes for a new Hamas hostage deal, according to Wall Street Journal reports.
"Israel will take all necessary measures to protect its security from any threat," Netanyahu's office said in a statement following the four-hour meeting.
