The fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime presents Israel with both potential threats and strategic opportunities. If unrest is feared to spill over into Israeli territory, the situation also offers an opportunity to counter Iran’s arms smuggling to Hezbollah via Syria.
Israeli forces have begun to seize control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria established as part of the 1974 ceasefire agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move was temporary, aimed at securing the border. Syrian troops withdraw.
Visiting the Golan Heights on Sunday, he said, “Since the Syrian army abandoned its position, the move to Israel’s buffer zone was necessary as a temporary defensive position”, according to the news agency. Ap.
Israeli soldiers joke next to an armored vehicle parked near the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. (AP)
However, the United Nations has expressed concern. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said, “Peacekeepers in UNDOF told their Israeli counterparts that these actions violated the 1974 disengagement agreement”. Ap Reported.
Despite this, the United Nations has confirmed that peacekeepers are stationed in the region, which remains calm. The Security Council is scheduled to convene consultations requested by Russia to address Israel’s actions in the buffer zone.
Netanyahu said Israel would secure about 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) of the buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-held Golan Heights. Established after the 1973 Middle East war, 1,100 UN troops patrol the region.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar explained the reasoning behind the military move, saying, “The Israeli army targeted and temporarily took control of some areas near the border to prevent an October 7 scenario from Syria.” He referred to Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel in 2023.
Criticism has intensified, with Egypt accusing Israel of exploiting Syria’s chaos. Its foreign ministry said Israel was “trying to seize more Syrian territory in violation of international law”.
Israel has expanded operations into the buffer zone, including the Syrian side of Mount Herman, the highest peak in the eastern Mediterranean. Netanyahu emphasized the importance of controlling this strategic location, saying, “We will capture the summit of Mount Hermon.”
Israeli army tanks maneuver along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, in the city of Majdal Shams, Monday, December 9, 2024. (AP)
Although Israel claims the move is temporary, it has been met with skepticism. A Ap Last month’s investigation revealed that Israel entered the buffer zone earlier this year during a project under construction along the border, prompting a UN warning for ceasefire violations.
Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, outlined the military’s immediate objectives, including neutralizing heavy artillery in Syria and creating a “safe zone” to prevent Iran from transporting weapons to Hezbollah. Foreign Minister Saar said Israel had targeted several sites with chemical weapons and long-range missiles, without specifying when these attacks took place.
Analysts such as Carmit Valensi of the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies consider the operation strategic. “This is a temporary step to ensure border stability amid the collapse of Syria,” she said. Ap.
Additionally, Israel is reaching out to Syria’s Druze community and rebel groups to limit the influence of Iranian-backed factions. Valency suggested past initiatives such as “Operation Good Neighbor,” which provided humanitarian aid to Syrians, could be used to build coalitions.
For now, Israeli leaders insist the move is not a prelude to a wider offensive. “It is not about changing the border but ensuring stability until the situation stabilizes,” a military official said on condition of anonymity.
(with input from AP)