Israel-Syria-Iran regional tensions

Regional tensions have intensified following Israeli military activity in southern Syria. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan held discussions aimed at preventing further escalation and restoring stability, with Iran noting that the crisis in Yemen requires diplomatic rather than military solutions.

Simultaneously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops in the Mount Hermon area of southern Syria. Netanyahu asserted that Israel maintains absolute control over the territory stretching from Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk River and the Mediterranean Sea, stating that Israel will not allow a ‘terrorist army’ to establish itself on its borders. He further claimed that the Iranian regime is nearing collapse.

Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the security zone, where troops have been stationed since December 2024 following the fall of Bashar al-Assad. This presence has drawn condemnation from Syria, which called the visit a ‘provocative move’ and a ‘blatant violation’ of its sovereignty. Jordan and Kuwait also criticized the incursion as illegal and a violation of international law, with Kuwait calling for United Nations Security Council intervention to uphold the 1974 agreement between Syria and Israel.