Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Israel swiftly took action by targeting nearly 500 Syrian military assets to prevent them from falling into rebel hands. This included destroying the navy and claiming to have eliminated 90% of Syria's known surface-to-air missiles. One significant prize for Israel was the capture of Mount Hermon summit, the highest peak in Syria. While Israeli officials have stated that the occupation is temporary, the strategic importance of this location cannot be understated.
The summit of Mount Hermon, located in a buffer zone that separated Israeli and Syrian forces for fifty years, was recently taken control of by Israeli troops. This area was previously demilitarized and patrolled by UN peacekeepers. Israel's Defense Minister has ordered the military to prepare for winter deployment in the harsh conditions of the region.
Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights, a plateau adjacent to Mount Hermon, dates back to the 1967 war. Despite the area being illegally occupied under international law, the United States recognized Israel's claim on the Golan during the Trump administration. Mount Hermon's summit, standing at 9,232 feet, provides Israel with a strategic advantage, allowing for deep electronic surveillance into Syrian territory and artillery range towards Damascus.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel's actions were focused on security rather than intervening in Syria's internal affairs. The peak's proximity to the Syrian capital and its foothills now under IDF control pose a significant threat to potential attacks on Israeli communities in the Golan Heights.
While Netanyahu has expressed willingness to engage with the new Syrian government, Israel remains vigilant in ensuring its security. The criteria for withdrawal from the occupied areas include the establishment of a Syrian force committed to the 1974 agreement and guaranteeing border security. The timeline for achieving these conditions remains uncertain.
