UPDATE – US fully backs Israel's military moves in Syria: Israeli media

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) – The US administration fully backs the Israeli military moves in Syria, including the seizure of a demilitarized buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights, Israeli media said on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced the collapse of a UN-monitored disengagement agreement, which established a buffer zone between Israel and Syria after Syrian troops withdrew from the area following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

"Washington is aware of and fully supports our actions in Syria," Israel’s Army Radio said.

The radio, citing an Israeli official, said the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria "is dead."

The agreement led to Israel’s withdrawal from some Syrian territories but left the Golan Heights under Israeli control.

According to the broadcaster, the Israeli army acknowledges that its forces have entered for several kilometers into the demilitarized buffer zone.

The army, however, claims that it has no intention to advance further into the area.

The radio said the Israeli army is working on destroying "every potential military targets" of the ousted Syrian regime, including tanks, warplanes, intelligence headquarters and advanced military equipment.

The Israeli army on Sunday carried out dozens of airstrikes across Syria targeting around 100 sites following the fall of the Assad regime.

Israeli media said the airstrikes targeted military bases, air defense stations and intelligence headquarters as well as long- and short-range missile depots, weapons production centers and unconventional weapon stockpiles.

Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will visit Israel on Thursday to discuss the ongoing developments in Syria and Gaza cease-fire negotiations.

The Israeli news website Walla, citing an unnamed Israeli official, said Sullivan will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer for talks on the situation in Syria, and Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas.

There was no US confirmation of the visit yet.

Assad fled Syria to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of the capital Damascus early Sunday, marking the collapse of the Baath Party regime, which had been in power in Syria since 1963.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar and Rania Abu Shamala