Mount Hermon in Israel's grip... Temporary presence or a change in the rules of the game?

In a new escalation step, Israeli Defense Minister "Yisrael Katz" announced last Thursday, February 27th, that Israeli forces will not withdraw from Mount Hermon in Syria, confirming that their presence there will continue "indefinitely."

Katz stated in a press release: "We will not allow the violation of the demilitarized zone in southern Syria," adding that Israel "does not trust Ahmed al-Sharaa but only trusts its army," referring to the Syrian forces commander in the area.

Katz emphasized that the Israeli army launched attacks on Syrian forces attempting to position themselves in the south, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israeli planes carried out, on Tuesday, February 25th, four strikes on a military headquarters southwest of Damascus, simultaneously targeting another site in the town of Izraa in Daraa province.

Furthermore, the Israeli army considered that "the presence of resources and military forces in southern Syria poses a direct threat," pointing out that its airstrikes targeted military sites containing weapons.

Israel's announcement to stay on Mount Hermon is not just a passing statement, as the mountain holds immense strategic importance, overlooking four countries: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories.

Israeli forces had penetrated the demilitarized zone after the fall of the Assad regime days ago, surpassing some sites monitored by the United Nations.

Despite previous Israeli officials' confirmation that the movements were "temporary," Katz's recent statements raise doubts about Tel Aviv's actual intentions.

Israeli actions have sparked widespread international criticism, with the United Nations and several countries considering Israel's incursion into the buffer zone, established after the October 1973 war, as a "blatant violation of international agreements," demanding an immediate withdrawal of forces.

However, with Israel's insistence on staying "indefinitely," the question remains:

Are we soon witnessing a new phase of confrontation in southern Syria?