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An Israeli army soldier sits atop a tank as it drives into the UN-patrolled buffer zone, which separates Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights, near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights on Friday. | AFP photo

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has ordered the military to 鈥榩repare to remain鈥� throughout the winter in the UN-patrolled buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces on the strategic Golan Heights.

Israel seized the demilitarised zone on Sunday, just hours after Syrian rebels swept president Bashar al-Assad from power.


Since then, the Israeli military has launched hundreds of air and naval strikes against Syrian military assets, targeting everything from chemical weapons stores to air defences to prevent them from falling into rebel hands.

The plan to deploy troops in the buffer zone comes at a time when Israeli forces are still withdrawing from southern Lebanon after fighting Hezbollah militants for months and the war in Gaza with Palestinian militants continues.

鈥楧ue to the situation in Syria, it is of critical security importance to maintain our presence at the summit of Mount Hermon, and everything must be done to ensure the army鈥檚 readiness on-site to enable the fighters to stay there despite the challenging weather conditions,鈥� Katz鈥檚 spokesman said in a statement on Friday.

Israel says it seized the buffer zone to defend itself.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 office said on Thursday that the collapse of Assad鈥檚 rule had created a 鈥榲accum on Israel鈥檚 border and in the buffer zone鈥�.

鈥楾his deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 armistice agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.鈥�

Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

It held onto the territory during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war and in 1981 annexed the area in a move since recognised only by the United States.

Israel鈥檚 seizure of the buffer zone has triggered widespread international criticism, including from UN chief Antonio Guterres.

Guterres 鈥榠s deeply concerned by the recent and extensive violations of Syria鈥檚 sovereignty and territorial integrity,鈥� his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Thursday.

鈥楾he Secretary-General is particularly concerned over the hundreds of Israeli air strikes on several locations in Syria.鈥�

The UN says Israel鈥檚 seizure of the buffer zone violates the 1974 armistice.

Guterres urges 鈥榯he parties to the agreement to uphold their obligations under this instrument, including by ending all unauthorised presence in the area of separation and refraining from any action that would undermine the ceasefire and stability in Golan,鈥� Dujarric said.

Israel鈥檚 key military ally the United States has called for the Israeli incursion to be 鈥榯emporary鈥�.

Analysts say Israel is concerned that any remaining stocks of chemical or other strategic weapons that Assad鈥檚 forces had held onto could fall into the hands of jihadist groups, who might use them against it.