Israel seized the territory from Syria in the final phase of the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed it in 1981. The move was not recognized internationally, although the US unilaterally did so in 2019.
After rebel forces toppled the Assad regime in Syria, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) seized control of the buffer zone and moved into new positions in the Golan Heights, including the top of Mount Hermon.
Katz’s office said in a statement that “everything must be done to ensure the readiness of the IDF on the ground to allow fighters to remain there in severe weather conditions.”
Guterres said on Thursday that the 1974 agreement “remains in force” and condemned any action inconsistent with it. He urged its parties to honor their commitments, including “ceasing all unauthorized presence in the separation zone.”
Guterres also said he was “particularly concerned” about hundreds of Israeli airstrikes on several locations in Syria.
The IDF said its air force and navy had carried out more than 350 strikes against Syrian military forces this week.
Israel said it was acting to stop weapons getting “into the hands of extremists”.
