Netanyahu threatens Iran from occupied Syrian mountain (VIDEO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel is “very close” to defeating Iran, during a visit to Israeli troops stationed atop Mount Hermon in Syrian territory, which was seized by the IDF following the collapse of former President Bashar Assad’s government.
Netanyahu traveled to the strategic summit on Wednesday accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai.
“Damascus is right here, Lebanon is right there, the Syrian Golan Heights are right there,” Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, claiming that Israel now exercises “absolute control the likes of which has never been seen before” over the surrounding area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Mt. Hermon in Syria, together with Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Deputy Chief-of-Staff Maj- Gen. Tamir Yadai.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 9, 2026
The Prime Minister was briefed at an IDF outpost overlooking Syria by Head of Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo and… pic.twitter.com/pnEYLyKQya
He said Israel will not allow a “terrorist army” to establish itself along the border, before turning his remarks toward Tehran.
“From these peaks, there is still work to do: The main task is to defeat the terrorist regime in Iran,” Netanyahu said. “We are very close to it. We know that the entire axis will ultimately fall. We are committed to doing this, and we will do it.”
Syria condemned Netanyahu’s visit as “illegal entry” into its territory. The Foreign Ministry called the trip “provocative” and a “blatant violation” of Syrian sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law, and urged the UN and other international actors to press Israel to end its incursions.
Israel seized the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and other positions inside the UN-monitored buffer zone in December 2024, after Assad’s government fell. Israel initially described the deployment as temporary, but has since entrenched its presence. Katz said during Wednesday’s visit that Israeli troops are “not moving” from the “security zone.”
A UN commission warned just a day earlier that Israeli military activity inside Syria has become “increasingly sustained and entrenched,” describing Israel’s presence as a “belligerent occupation” and saying some actions against Syrian civilians could amount to war crimes. Israel rejected the findings, insisting it has no territorial ambitions in Syria and maintains the buffer zone solely for security purposes.
The continued military presence in Syria and southern Lebanon has also put Netanyahu at odds with Washington. In July, President Donald Trump reportedly urged the Israeli leader to withdraw from both countries, saying, “they don’t want you there.”
