Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz visited the summit of Mount Hermon on the Syrian side of the border today after the site was captured by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) last week, the Times of Israel reported.

“The top of Mount Hermon is the eyes of the State of Israel to detect near and far threats. The Israel Defense Forces are here to protect the communities in the Golan Heights and the citizens of the State of Israel from any threat while in the most important place to do so,” Katz said.

“We will be here for as long as it takes. Our presence here on Mt. Hermon strengthens security and adds a dimension of surveillance and deterrence to Hezbollah's strongholds in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, as well as to deter rebels in Damascus who pretend to be moderate but belong to the most extremist Islamic sects,” added Katz.

Netanyahu and Katz were joined by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen, Israeli media reports.