HTS leader demands Israel withdraw troops from Syria

Officials in Syria's transitional government took a tough stance on Israel's presence on its territory on January 16 local time.

The stance comes after an Israeli airstrike in southern Syria killed three people and injured five others.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital Damascus, the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), the force currently in power in Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said: "Israel entered the buffer zone under the pretext of the presence of Iranian militias, but this excuse is no longer valid when Damascus has been liberated."

For decades, the border between Syria and Israel has been peaceful thanks to the 1974 Partition Agreement, under which the UN oversees a demilitarized buffer zone between the two countries.

However, after the government of Bashar al-Assad was overthrown on December 8, the Israeli army entered the area, calling it a temporary measure to deter hostile forces.

This action has caused strong protests from local people and Arab countries.

Speaking alongside Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Mr. Sharaa affirmed that Syria is ready to welcome international forces into the buffer zone, while emphasizing Qatar's central role in pressuring Israel to withdraw its troops.

Qatar's foreign minister also condemned Israel's occupation of the buffer zone, insisting that Israeli forces "must withdraw immediately."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli army to occupy the buffer zone, which includes many Syrian villages, since December 17 and announced that the force will stay until a new agreement is reached to ensure Israel's security.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, in an interview with Türkiye's TRT channel, called on the international community to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied areas and respect Syria's sovereignty.

“These areas belong to the Syrian people, not the former government. Israel must respect Syria’s sovereignty as it desires security for its borders and homes,” Shibani stressed.

On January 15, an Israeli airstrike in the village of Ghadir al-Bustan in Quneitra province killed three people and injured many others. The dead included a local official and security forces affiliated with HTS.

The Israeli military said the strikes targeted weapons transport vehicles, while HTS has not made any official comment.

Nizar Mchel, a teacher from Ghadir al-Bustan, said security forces and the transitional government's military are conducting operations to seize illegal weapons.

However, Israeli drone attacks targeted the military convoy carrying out the operation.

People in the area called on Israel to withdraw its troops and end the attacks, so they can return to peaceful life.