Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government, Israeli troops moved into the demilitarised zone inside Syria created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, including the Syrian side of the strategic Mount Hermon that overlooks Damascus, where it took over an abandoned Syrian military post.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has criticised Israel for launching strikes on Syria and expanding its territory further into the occupied Golan Heights after the fall of Bashar al Assad. Guterres described Israel’s actions as “deeply concerning” and called for the Israelis to stop firing into Syria and respect its sovereignty.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had no answer when asked at Thursday's WH briefing what "temporary" means with regard to Israel's invasion of Syria to establish a buffer zone beyond the Golan Heights as former radicals take over the government from Bashar al-Assad: NIALL STANAGE,