The United Nations is condemning operations undertaken by the Israel Defense Forces in Syria following the collapse of the nation’s established government.

The IDF has crossed into the buffer zone dividing the two nations and occupied the area that, by international law, should be kept free from military presence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to maintain control over the summit of Mount Hermon — the highest peak in Syria and a location inside the buffer zone that holds religious significance for multiple faiths.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric warned Israeli leaders that their actions constitute a “violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement, that there should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation.”

The IDF has defended its actions as “defensive” precautions during the unstable transition period from former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime to the rebel government being established by terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham.

“We are not involved in what’s happening in Syria internally, we are not a side in this conflict and we do not have any interest other than protecting our borders and the security of our citizens,” said Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a spokesman for the Israeli military.

Syrian security forces said that the Israelis have even moved beyond the buffer zone in some areas and entered Syrian territory.

Other Middle Eastern countries have also voiced outrage at Israel’s occupation of the buffer zone, accusing the Jewish state of exploiting political unrest to make illegal land grabs.

“Egypt stresses that Israeli practices violate international law as well as the unity and integrity of Syrian territories, and constitute an exploitation of the state of fluidity and vacuum in Syria to occupy more Syrian territories to impose a new fait accompli on the ground in violation of international law,” the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also condemned the occupation of the buffer zone, calling it an illegal seizure of Syrian territory.

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Israeli airstrikes have bombarded military installations across Syria for days, destroying weaponry, naval vessels, military vehicles, war planes, and more.

The IDF says the strikes are intended to destroy Iranian-linked infrastructure and weaponry that could be used by the new HTS government against Israel.

“I warn the rebel leaders in Syria — those who follow Assad’s path will end like Assad,” Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz said.