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[SEBASTIAN SCHEINER/AFP via Getty Images]             The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the illegal entry of Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz into Syrian territory, calling it a “clear provocation”, Anadolu agency reported.   The ministry’s assertion came in a statement issued after Katz visited a buffer zone in Syrian territory that Israeli forces occupied last year.  Katz’s visit comes two days after a meeting in Jordan — ostensibly aimed at reducing tensions — between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Israeli intelligence chief Roman Gofman.  In its statement, the ministry condemned the “illegal entry of the Israeli defense minister … in flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”  The move, it added, constitutes a “clear provocation, a violation of international law and the UN Charter, and a breach of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement” between Syria and Israel.  READ: (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260825-israel-will-not-leave-mount-hermon-syrian-buffer-zone-defense-minister/) Israel will not leave Mount Hermon, Syrian buffer zone: Defence minister   The ministry called on the international community to compel Israel to cease its repeated violations and withdraw from occupied Syrian territory.  The Israeli army seized control of the buffer zone last year — a move Damascus said was a violation of a 1974 Disengagement Agreement between the two countries.  After the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, Israel declared the Disengagement Agreement null and void, seizing the buffer zone and other positions, including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.  Since then, Israel has carried out frequent incursions into southern Syria, particularly in the countryside of the Daraa and Quneitra provinces, where it has arrested residents and set up military checkpoints.  READ: (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260826-syria-after-sdf-dissolution-al-sharaa-discusses-integration-steps-with-mazloum-abdi/) Syria: After SDF dissolution, al-Sharaa discusses integration steps with Mazloum Abdi    (index.html#disqus_thread) 0 Comments  (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) (Creative Commons License)   Unless otherwise stated in the article above, this work by (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . If the image(s) bear our credit, this license also applies to them. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) What does that mean? For other permissions, please (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/contact) contact us .  Spotted an error on this page? Let us know    (22342)  (6.1.6)  (en_US)  (wpcf7-f22342-p861727-o1)  (861727)  ()  ()   (Email Address (if you require a response)) ()    (What is the error?)    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