Israeli Soldiers Discover Significant Cache of Weapons in Demilitarized Zone

On January 5, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that their Mountain Brigade uncovered a considerable stockpile of weapons during operations on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, a strategically significant peak in the Golan Heights. The cache included various military assets such as rockets, launchers, anti-tank missiles, mines, and explosive charges, along with military structures and control points.

Following the decline of Bashar Assad's regime in December, Israel deployed troops into a 235 square kilometer buffer zone to prevent Syrian rebels from advancing towards its borders. This move was conducted in coordination with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), and Israeli officials have stated their intention to maintain their presence in the demilitarized zone for an indefinite period. This is notable as it represents the first instance since the 1974 ceasefire agreement, which ended the Yom Kippur War, that the IDF has established a lasting presence in the area, as they regard the original ceasefire agreement as no longer valid until stability is restored in Syria.