Standing atop a windswept military outpost on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel gazed north across the fractured landscape of post-Assad Syria, making a calculated statement about Israel's evolving role in the region's shifting geography.
Hours later, Mr. Netanyahu ordered Israeli forces to maintain their presence on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon through 2025, a directive that defense analysts say represents Israel's first formal commitment to long-term control of territory seized during Syria's collapse.
The timing of the announcement, coming amid Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and escalating tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon, suggests a broader strategic vision taking shape in Jerusalem. Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters, described the one-year timeline as necessary to evaluate Syria's political evolution and the emergence of any authority capable of preventing cross-border threats.
Netanyahu's visit to the site, which forced the postponement of a hearing in his long-running corruption trial, was shrouded in secrecy until after his departure. He was accompanied by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the military chief of staff.
Mount Hermon rises above the confluence of Israeli, Syrian and Lebanese territory. That's why it has long been prized for its strategic value. Israeli surveillance equipment positioned there can monitor movements deep inside Syria and Lebanon, providing early warning of potential threats.
The announcement comes at a delicate moment. Israel faces international pressure over its conduct in Gaza, while simultaneously managing escalating tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The commitment to a long-term presence on Mount Hermon suggests that Israeli military planners are looking beyond the current crisis to reshape the country's strategic posture.
Under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which established a buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces following the 1973 war, this area was designated as demilitarized. But Syria's collapse has rendered many such historical arrangements increasingly irrelevant, analysts say.
For now, Israeli forces on Mount Hermon maintain their vigilant watch, as policy makers in Jerusalem weigh how this strategic piece fits into the larger puzzle of regional security.
The year ahead will likely determine whether this temporary claim becomes a more permanent feature of Israel's northern frontier.
