Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the threats to Israel from Syria remain despite the moderate tone of rebel leaders who ousted President Bashar al-Assad. The latest developments in Syria increase the strength of the threat, despite the moderate image the rebel leaders claim to present.
Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, said Israel was using false pretexts to justify its attacks on Syria, but was not interested in engaging in new conflicts as the country focuses on rebuilding. Israel has moved into a demilitarised zone inside Syria since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.