Washington has supported Israel’s military actions in Syria, with State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasizing that these operations are conducted in self-defense. During a press briefing on Monday, Miller asserted that the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) movement into the Syrian side of the Golan Heights was aimed at preventing militants based in Syria from seizing control of border regions and potentially launching attacks on Israel in the future.

Israeli forces entered the demilitarized buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights on Sunday, following the seizure of Damascus by Syrian opposition forces, which led to the ousting of former President Bashar Assad. On Monday, Israeli troops advanced beyond the buffer zone into Syria, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announcing plans to establish a new “security area” free from “heavy strategic weapons and terrorist infrastructure.”

Miller noted that the Syrian Army’s withdrawal from the buffer zone may have “potentially created a vacuum” that could be exploited by terrorist groups.

“This situation poses a threat to Israel and its civilians. Every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorist organizations,” Miller remarked, emphasizing the importance of maintaining security along the border, which he believes the Israeli military is now positioned to provide.

Miller emphasized that Washington views the Israeli occupation as a temporary measure.

“This is a temporary action taken in response to the Syrian military’s withdrawal from that area. We aim to see the 1974 disengagement agreement honored, which includes the establishment of buffer zones and Israel’s return to its prior positions,” he explained, referencing the 1974 accord between Israel and Syria that created a demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights.

Miller’s comments contrast sharply with statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While West Jerusalem informed the UN Security Council that its military action in Syria is a “limited and temporary measure” during a press conference on Monday night, Netanyahu asserted that “the Golan Heights will forever be an inseparable part of the state of Israel.” He previously contended that the disengagement agreement with Syria effectively “collapsed” when Syrian forces “abandoned their positions” in the buffer zone.

The UN has condemned Israel’s incursion, stating it breaches the disengagement agreement and emphasizing that “there should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation.” Several Middle Eastern nations have also criticized Israel’s advance beyond the Golan Heights, accusing West Jerusalem of executing an illegal land grab. In a statement on Monday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry denounced the action as “a blatant attack on Syria’s sovereignty and unity” and “a flagrant violation of international law.” Similar sentiments were echoed by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.