Israel Fortifies Winter Presence on Mount Hermon Amid Regional Tensions

Israel's defense minister has ordered troops to prepare for winter on Mount Hermon, a strategic location in the Golan Heights, following Israel's recent control of the area after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. This move has drawn criticism from the UN, which calls for Israel's withdrawal from the buffer zone established by a 1974 disengagement agreement. The UN Secretary-General expressed concern over violations of Syria's sovereignty and the extensive Israeli airstrikes in Syria, while Israel cites security concerns and the collapse of the Syrian government as justification for its actions.