FM: John Whitbeck
The article at the link transmitted below reports on the
official U.S. government reaction to Israel's occupation of
yet more Syrian territory.
By the same logic, the U.S. government could -- and probably
would -- cite Israel's "right to defend itself" if Israel were
to occupy the entire territory of Syria, Lebanon or Jordan,
since, as Israel's occupation of the entire territory of the
State of Palestine demonstrates, occupation provokes
resistance, against which the occupying power must defend
itself.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Israel has now carried out more
than 300 airstrikes against Syria since Bashar al-Assad left
the country -- all, no doubt, in "self-defense".
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-says-israel-has-right-defend-itself-after-seizing-buffer-zone-syria
US repeats Israel's 'right to defend itself' after seizure of buffer zone with Syria
State Department says Israel has right to 'take actions against terrorist organisations'
Israeli
soldiers stand on the fence with the buffer zone that separates the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, on 9 December 2024 (Menahem
Kahana/AFP)
The US State Department said on Monday that Israel was acting in self-defence when its military invaded Syrian territory beyond the demilitarised buffer zone, following the removal of the Bashar al-Assad government by rebel groups.
On Sunday, Israeli forces moved from the occupied Golan Heights into a
buffer zone between Israel and Syria, saying the end of Assad's rule
meant that the 1974 "disengagement agreement" between the two countries
had collapsed and "Syrian forces have abandoned their positions".
"I directed the [Israeli military] yesterday to seize the buffer zone
and the commanding positions nearby. We will not allow any hostile
force to establish itself on our border," Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu said.
However, several Israeli officials told The New York Times that Israeli forces advanced beyond that buffer zone and crossed into Syrian territory.
Israel's military was in control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and several other locations, according to the report.
The Israeli military's chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, also said on
Saturday night that Israel “deployed troops into Syrian territory”.
Halevi didn't elaborate, but his comments appear to conclude that
Israeli forces advanced beyond the buffer zone.
In a press briefing at the State Department on Monday, spokesperson
Matthew Miller defended Israel's incursion, using Netanyahu's argument.
"The Syrian army abandoned its positions in the area around the
negotiated Israeli-Syrian buffer zone, which potentially creates a
vacuum that could have been filled by terrorist organisations that would
threaten the state of Israel," Miller said.
"Every country has the right to take actions against terrorist organisations."
Miller said it was important that there was "security along that border" and that "Israel has said these actions are temporary".
"Ultimately, what we want to see is lasting security between Israel
and Syria, and that means we support all sides upholding the 1974
disengagement agreement," he added.
Israel also bombed 100 different sites inside Syria over the weekend.
Blinken warns of Islamic State group resurgence
In remarks given at a separate State Department event on Monday,
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would not allow the
Islamic State (IS) group to regain a foothold in Syria.
On Sunday, the US launched dozens of air strikes in central Syria, saying they were targeting IS sites.
"History shows how quickly moments of promise can descend into
conflict and violence. ISIS will try to use this period to re-establish
its capabilities, to create safe havens," Blinken said, using another
acronym for the group.
"As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we are determined not to let that happen."
The US has welcomed the ousting of Assad, which came as a result of a
rebel offensive that started on 27 November. The rebels quickly
captured Syria's largest city, Aleppo, and within two weeks, had gained
control of the capital, Damascus, with the former Syrian president
fleeing the country to Russia.
The Biden administration said they would be closely monitoring the
situation, emphasising that the group that led the rebel offensive,
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is a US-designated terrorist group.
On Sunday, a senior Arab official briefed by US officials told Middle
East Eye the US was discussing the merits of removing a $10m bounty on
HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, more commonly known as Abu Mohammad
al-Jolani.