Netanyahu Says Israel Will Occupy Border Territory In Syria For Now

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that his forces will for now occupy territory they had seized over the border in Syria.

Netanyahu, who spoke in a video address from Mount Hermon, during a trip with his minister of defense and other Israeli officials said they were meeting in a state of emergency to discuss Israel's future security.

"Its importance to Israel's security has only been reinforced in recent years, and especially in recent weeks," he said, saying troops will stay until "another arrangement" is found.

"We will determine the best arrangement that will ensure our security," Netanyahu added.

Israeli forces moved past the Golan Heights and into a demilitarized buffer zone between Israel and Syria last week after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in the war-torn country on Dec. 8.

Assad, whose family ruled Syria in a brutal dictatorship for 50 years, was backed by Iran, the main adversary for Israel.

While Syria is now in the hands of an opposition group backed by Turkey, Netanyahu and Israeli officials said they were taking precautionary measures to safeguard their security.

Israel has also carried out intense airstrikes targeting weapons and military infrastructure left by Assad.

Israel took the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and has occupied it ever since. The area between the region and Syria is considered a buffer zone.

Mount Hermon is a snow-capped ridge between Syria and Lebanon that is included in the buffer zone and was captured by Israeli forces recently.

Netanyahu visited the mountain site on Tuesday with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz; the Israeli military's chief of staff Herzi Halevi; Ori Gordin, the chief of northern command; and head of the Shin Bet Ronen Bar.