Meanwhile, there are calls in Israel to take the "Syrian" Mt. Hermon - the higher part of the mountain that is still in Syrian control.

Here is what PM Netanyahu said on the border:

"This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East. The Assad regime is a central link in Iran's axis of evil - this regime has fallen. This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime. This has created a chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime.

This of course creates new, very important opportunities for the State of Israel. But it is also not without risks. We are acting first and foremost to protect our border. This area has been controlled for nearly 50 years by a buffer zone agreed upon in 1974, the Separation of Forces Agreement. This agreement has collapsed, the Syrian soldiers have abandoned their positions.

Together with the Minister of Defense, and with the full support of the Cabinet, I yesterday instructed the IDF to seize the buffer zone and the controlling positions adjacent to it. We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border.

At the same time, we are working towards a policy of good neighborliness, the same good neighborliness that we maintained when we established a field hospital here that treated thousands of Syrians who were wounded and injured in the civil war. Hundreds of Syrian children were born here in Israel.

Therefore, we extend the same hand of peace to our Druze neighbors. First of all, to them, they are brothers of our Druze brothers in the State of Israel. And we also extend a hand of peace to the Kurds, Christians and Muslims, who want to live in peace with Israel. We will closely follow developments. We will do what is necessary to protect our border and protect our security."