The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning "Netanyahu's illegal visit to southern Syria" along with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior officials. According to President Ahmad al-Shra'a's regime statement, "This is a dangerous violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a new attempt to impose reality, and Syria demands Israel's withdrawal from Syrian lands." The visit to the buffer zone in southern Syria was also attended by Shin Bet head David Zini.