Netanyahu says Israel will keep Syrian territories it seized

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will remain in the territories it seized in Syria, Haaretz reported.

"We very much hope that we will be able to reach a demilitarisation agreement for southern Syria and also take care of our Druze brothers," Netanyahu said at a meeting with Israeli ambassadors.

"But we want to keep these assets," he added.

His comments came after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa reiterated his call for Israel to withdraw from territories seized by Israel since December last year, and said negotiations were underway with the United States for an Israeli withdrawal.

Israeli forces crossed into southern Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government on 8 December 2024, and continue to occupy a United Nations buffer zone - the strategic heights of Mount Hermon - which overlooks Israel, Lebanon and Syria.