Israel controls Syrian buffer zone to enhance border security

Israel has taken control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria, a move it describes as temporary and necessary for border security. This area was established after the 1973 Mideast war and has been patrolled by U.N. forces. The Israeli military's actions come amid concerns about instability in Syria following the decline of President Bashar Assad's regime. Israel aims to prevent Iranian weapon smuggling to Hezbollah and to secure its borders from potential unrest. Critics, including the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, have condemned Israel's actions as violations of international law. Israel insists its operations are tactical and focused on maintaining stability, not on expanding territory.