Netanyahu visits Israeli troops in Syrian-held area, Damascus condemns

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his third visit to Israeli forces deployed in a contested area of Syria on Wednesday, prompting a fresh statement of condemnation from the Syrian government in Damascus. The trip underscored Israel’s continued military presence in the region, which it says is aimed at countering Iranian-backed militias and preventing the transfer of weapons across the Syrian border. Syrian officials denounced the visit as an infringement of Syrian sovereignty and warned that the incursions would further destabilise an already volatile front.

During the same visit, Netanyahu reiterated his assessment that the Iranian government is on the brink of collapse, a claim he linked to the ongoing US‑Israeli military campaign against Tehran’s regional influence. He framed the statement as evidence of the effectiveness of the joint effort, while U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the outlook. The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, as both Israel and the United States maintain pressure on Iran’s proxy networks while diplomatic channels remain strained.