(MENAFN) The United States has expressed support for Israel’s military operation in Syria, with State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasizing that the incursion is a defensive action aimed at protecting Israel’s security. Miller explained that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) entered the Syrian side of the Golan Heights to prevent militants from taking control of border areas, which could potentially be used to launch attacks on Israel in the future. The operation follows the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's government after Syrian opposition forces seized Damascus, forcing Assad to flee.

Israeli troops first moved into the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights and then expanded into Syria proper, with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating that the goal is to create a new "security area" free from strategic weapons and terrorist infrastructure. Miller pointed out that the Syrian military's withdrawal from the buffer zone created a security vacuum that could be exploited by terrorist organizations, posing a direct threat to Israel.

While the US backs Israel's actions, Miller clarified that the incursion should be temporary. He emphasized that the US wants the 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria to be upheld, which includes a return to previous positions in the buffer zone. This contrasts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement that the Golan Heights will permanently remain part of Israel.

The UN has criticized Israel’s actions as a violation of the 1974 agreement, and several Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, condemned the military advance as an illegal land grab and a breach of Syria's sovereignty.

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