Israel has recently taken significant steps to establish a security area in Syria beyond the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, reflecting concerns about potential threats from the uncertain leadership in Damascus post the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The Defense Minister of Israel, Israel Katz, issued a statement confirming the capture of the Syrian side of Mt. Hermon, a strategic high point located at the border of Syria, Lebanon, and the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights, seized by Israel from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981, has been a focal point of regional tensions.
The directive includes the completion of an Israeli takeover of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights and the establishment of a 'security zone' in Syrian territory beyond it, aimed at being free of heavy strategic weapons and terrorist activities. Israeli troops have been instructed to engage with the local population in the area and prevent the smuggling of weapons from Iran to Lebanon through Syria.
Furthermore, Israel's military has committed to ongoing operations to eliminate heavy strategic weapons present across Syria. Recent reports indicated that Israel conducted three airstrikes in the Syrian capital, allegedly targeting locations used by Hezbollah for weapon smuggling. The Israeli military, however, refrained from commenting on these specific strikes when approached.
These actions underscore Israel's proactive stance in safeguarding its security interests amidst the complex dynamics in the region. The airstrikes within Syrian territory mark a rare acknowledgment by Israel of military operations conducted inside its war-torn neighbor's borders.
