On November 19, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a buffer zone in southern Syria that is controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The zone, which the IDF took over after the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime in December 2024, has been a source of tension between Israel and Syria. Netanyahu led a large Israeli delegation, including government ministers and commanders, to the area and said Israel’s presence there is of “immense importance.” Syrian officials condemned the visit as reports emerged of security talks between Israel and Syria hitting a “dead end.”