The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has informed Israel that its presence in the Syrian buffer zone would violate the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement with Syria, according to the UN Secretary General's spokesperson. This statement comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had instructed the military to 'take control' of the buffer zone, which acts as a separation between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the rest of Syria.
Confirming the incursion, the UN has reported that Israeli troops have entered the buffer zone and are currently positioned in at least three locations within the area. The UN spokesperson emphasized that the buffer zone is designated for no military forces or activities, as outlined in the agreement.
The UNDOF personnel, responsible for upholding the ceasefire between Israel and Syria and monitoring the areas of separation and limitation, are said to be stationed at their designated posts and are fulfilling their mandated duties. Despite the presence of Israeli troops in the buffer zone, the situation within the UNDOF area of operations is described as relatively calm at present.
