Netanyahu says Israeli army to stay in Syria buffer zone ‘indefinitely’

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday evening that his army will stay in Syria’s buffer zone “indefinitely.”

Addressing a press conference in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said Israeli army forces will remain on the Syrian Hermon Mount "Jabal al-Sheikh" for "an unlimited period of time."

“We demand full demilitarization of southern Syria from troops of the new Syrian regime in the Quneitra, Daraa and Suweyda provinces,” Netanyahu said.

“We will not allow the new Syrian army to move into territory south of Damascus,” he said, claiming that Israel will not tolerate any threats to Druze in southern Syria.