Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video published on Thursday (July 17) that Israel established a "clear policy" of demilitarisation of the area in Syria south of Damascus.

Netanyahu said Israel committed to protecting the Druze in the southern areas of Syria, and ensuring no Syrian army is present in the region south of Damascus.

His video, released by the Government Press Office, comes a day after Israel had launched airstrikes in Damascus, while also hitting government forces in the southern Syria, demanding they withdraw.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday vowed to protect its Druze minority and accused Israel of trying to fracture Syria.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

UNKNOWN LOCATION (JULY 17, 2025) (GPO - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

"We have set forth a clear policy: demilitarization of the region south of Damascus, from the Golan Heights and to the Druze Mountain area, that's number one. Number two is protecting the brothers of our brothers, the Druze in the Druze Mountain. Both were broken by the regime in Damascus. They sent troops south of Damascus, into the region that has to be demilitarized, and began slaughtering the Druze. That we can not accept in any way. Therefore I directed the Israeli army to take action, and take powerful action. The Air Force attacked both the gangs of murderers and the armoured vehicles. And I added another target, to attack the Ministry of Defence in Damascus. As a result of that powerful action, a ceasefire came into force, and the Syrian forces retreated back to Damascus. That is important. This is a ceasefire that was reached through strength. Not by making requests, not by begging, but through strength. We are reaching peace through strength, quiet through strength, security through strength, on seven fronts. That will also be our policy going forward. We will not allow (Syrian) army forces to enter the region south of Damascus, and will not allow any harm to the Druze at the Druze Mountain."