IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, center, speaking to commanders and soldiers in the Golan Heights on Dec. 13, 2024. Photo: IDF.

JNS.org – “We are not intervening in what is happening in Syria. We are here to stop terrorist elements from establishing themselves,” Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said during a situational assessment in the Golan Heights on Friday.

Speaking to soldiers stationed there alongside OC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin and 210th Division commander Brig. Gen. Yair Palai, as well as additional members of the IDF General Staff Forum, Halevi said the troops were there to defend the border along the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.

“There was a country here that was an enemy state, its army collapsed, and there is a threat that terrorist elements could reach here. We moved forward so that these terrorist elements will not establish themselves—extremist terrorists will not establish themselves right next to the border,” Halevi stressed.

“In my opinion, the preparations along the entire border, from Mount Hermon to the meeting point of the Israeli, Syrian and Jordanian borders, are correct preparations, good preparations, its purpose is also to make many changes, you have all the necessary military assistance here, there is excellent force buildup here. We have reserve soldiers, regular soldiers, regular brigades, special units, General Staff assistance from all directions, use everything wisely,” the military leader concluded.