What is this about

On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) briefly detained French freelance journalist Sylvain Mercadier and his fixer, Mohammed al Fayyad, in a buffer zone in southern Syria, an area now managed by the Israeli military following the fall of the Assad regime.

Why it matters

The situation shines a light on the IDF’s proactive measures to secure the buffer zone between Israel and Syria, amidst significant regional changes. Their presence ensures stability and prevents unauthorized access close to a sensitive military area that has new strategic importance following shifts in local political power.

The details

The military stated that Mercadier and his fixer were identified near troops in the no man’s land and were consequently detained for questioning near Quneitra. However, they were released with all personal belongings after the investigation. It’s noted that the IDF asserts nothing was removed from their possession.

The response

Liaising with transparency, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani explained the military’s cautious action as necessary after Mercadier and al Fayyad’s proximity to military personnel.

Addressing the watchdog reports

On an international note, Reporters Without Borders expressed relief about the swift release, assuring continued high regard for maintaining journalist rights—a sentiment supported by the IDF’s adherence to intervention only in necessary circumstances, such as entry into secured zones.

What’s more

The IDF clarified that troop deployment to the UN-supervised buffer zone in the Golan Heights is a temporary safeguard during the ongoing transition period, ensuring peace and deterring potential threats amid local turbulence.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.