The IDF announced on Wednesday that troops from the 228th Brigade, under the command of the 210th Division, completed their mission in the security zone in Syria and will be replaced by soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, while also announcing that the 98th Division Headquarters will operate in the West Bank.
According to the military, during the three-month-long deployment, the soldiers conducted targeted operations, questioned dozens of suspects, apprehended several operatives, dismantled terrorist infrastructure, and located numerous weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), mortar shells, and Kalashnikov rifles.
The announcement came as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa demanded the Israeli withdrawal from the security zone, claiming that while "the world was encouraged by our [Syria's new rulers'] return, Israel kept attacking Syria."
"There have been 500 airstrikes, more than 1200 incursions, and 300 detentions. This is at odds with the global orientation we are seeing. It is reminiscent of an era that we thought was long gone. We are committed to the 1974 agreement; we call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the line of the 8 of December of 2024," he stated.
Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to Sharaa's comments on the Golan Heights, saying: "My clear response to the Syrian president, who made boastful declarations from the UN podium, is this: The Golan, under Israeli sovereignty, is an inseparable part of the State of Israel."
98th Division moves to the West Bank
According to the military, the decision to move the 98th Division Headquarters to the West Bank was taken with the objective of strengthening defensive and offensive capabilities by the military in the region.
The division will assume command of the Judea and Etzion Regional Brigades, according to orders issued by the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, following the recent terror attacks in the area.
The latest attack in the area happened on Wednesday, when IDF reservist Neria Leiter, an American citizen and son of Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, was seriously wounded in a car-ramming terrorist attack at Maccabim (Bell) checkpoint on Route 443 near Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut.
Another incident was reported earlier on Wednesday, when two Palestinians reportedly attempted to run over the owner of a farm in the Hebron Hills.
The farm owner began shooting at them in accordance with the “suspect arrest procedure,” wounding one of the individuals in the leg, according to reports.
James Genn and Miriam Sela-Eitam contributed to this report.