Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Iran's Islamic republic is on the brink of collapse, as tensions escalate in the six-month Middle East war. Speaking during a visit to Israeli troops stationed in southern Syria, Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of toppling what he termed a 'terror regime' in Iran. He asserted, 'We are very close to that.'
Heightened Tensions in the Region
Netanyahu's visit to the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, along the Israel-Syria border, comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Israeli forces have been stationed in a'security zone' in southern Syria since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. This zone was previously a buffer area patrolled by the United Nations that separated Israeli and Syrian forces in the Israeli-occupied Golan since 1974.
The Israeli Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to preventing any terrorist army from establishing itself on Israel's border. His trip across the border, however, drew strong condemnation from Damascus, which denounced it as an inflammatory act and a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
Israel's Strategic Objectives
Accompanying Netanyahu was Defence Minister Israel Katz, who delivered a video message to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowing that Israeli troops would not withdraw from Mount Hermon. Katz emphasized, 'We are here sending a very strong and clear message to the President of Syria... we are not moving from here.'
Netanyahu and Katz have both visited Israeli troops in Syria multiple times, underscoring Israel's strategic objectives in the region. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since Islamist leaders took over from Assad and has made repeated incursions into Syrian territory. Officials have vowed to maintain a presence in the security zone, aiming for a broader demilitarized area.
Netanyahu's assertion that Iran's regime is nearing collapse reflects Israel's broader strategic goals in the region. Syria, once a staunch ally of Iran under the leadership of Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar, has seen its alliance with Iran end following Bashar's fall. Israel's actions in Syria are part of a larger effort to curb Iran's influence and prevent the establishment of a hostile presence on its borders.
