Israel Defense Forces denies operations near Damascus, confirms presence in buffer zone

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied reports of operating near Damascus, stating they are only present within a buffer zone along the Israel-Syria border. This follows their recent deployment to prevent Syrian rebels from approaching Israeli territory. The IDF clarified that they are not advancing into Syria, contradicting claims that they reached the village of Qatana, 10 km inside Syria. Their presence in the buffer zone is coordinated with UN peacekeepers. Additionally, the IDF has conducted airstrikes on Syrian military sites to stop weapons from reaching Islamist rebels. This includes targeting facilities linked to chemical weapons and Iranian forces.