19/07/2025
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
"I wish to update you on what we did in Syria, and what we will do in Syria.
We established a clear policy: the demilitarization of the area south of Damascus, from the Golan to the Druze Mountain region, is one line. The second line - protecting our brothers, the Druze in the Druze Mountain.
Both of these things were violated by the Damascus regime. It sent troops south of Damascus, into the area that was supposed to be demilitarized, and it began slaughtering the Druze. We could not accept that in any way.
Therefore, I instructed the IDF to act - and to act forcefully. The Air Force attacked both the murder gangs and the RPGs. I also added a target in Damascus to attack the Ministry of Defense.
As a result of this intense operation, a ceasefire was achieved, and Syrian forces retreated back to Damascus. This is important.
This is a ceasefire achieved through strength. Not through requests, not through pleas - through strength. We achieve peace through strength, quiet through strength, security through strength - on seven fronts.
This will also be the continuation of our policy - we will not allow army forces to descend south of Damascus, we will not allow the Druze in Jabal Druze to be harmed.
I want to share something that deeply moved me in the last two days. Sheikh Muafaq Tarif, the leader of the Druze in Israel, approached me.
He told me the following: 'During the Holocaust, when you Jews were slaughtered, you cried for help, and no one came. Today, we Druze are being slaughtered, and we are calling for the help of the State of Israel.'
And I said - he is right.
We acted, and will continue to act as needed."