Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday (Dec 15) that Israel does not seek a confrontation with Syria. This comes just days after he ordered Israeli forces into the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights, a region between the two countries forces.

Netanyahu says Israel has 'no interest in confronting Syria'

Israel on Sunday (Dec 15) approved a plan to "double" the population of the annexed Golan Heights. This comes as the country insists that it had no intention of confronting Syria after Israeli forces, acting on the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the wake of the ouster of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad by Islamist rebels.

Israel greenlights $11 million plan to 'double' Golan Heights population amid regional tensions

The Israeli government, as per reports, has approved 40 million shekel ($11 million) for this population plan



“We have no interest in confronting Syria. We will determine Israel's policy towards Syria according to the emerging reality on the ground,” Netanyahu said in a video message.



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday (Dec 6) warned that the recent rebel offensive in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad could threaten the stability of the entire Middle East.

Iran warns of 'great threat' to West Asia as Syrian rebels storm key cities, threaten Assad’s rule