TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The shake-up of Syrian President Bashar Assad can be threatening, if not stoke hope and threat, for Israel’s. Having been engaged in numerous fronts for months, the Israeli state now fears that the Syria turmoil may drag into its borders.Israel’s also sees the imposition of a new Syrian government as an opportunity to weaken Iran’s means of transferring weapons and resources to the Hezbollah in Lebanon.ing wars on multiple fronts for months, Israel is now concerned that unrest in Syria could spill over into its territory. Israel also views the end of the Assad regime as a chance to disrupt Iran’s ability to smuggle weapons through Syria to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
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Israeli military on Saturday started to take control of a frozen no-activity zone in Syria that was established after the ceasefire agreement signed in 1974. It assured the public that the cuts are temporary and were implemented to protect its borders.
However, the delegates raised outrage due to breach of the ceasefire; some allege that this provoked attack on Lebanon in a bid to claim chunks of Syrian territories. Israel still occupies the Golan Heights that it seized from Syria in the June 1967 Mideast war and later formally claimed — but the international community does not recognize.Here is a snapshot of what has been happening close to the Syrian border lately.ent Bashar Assad presents possible danger, and an opening, for neighboring Israel’s.
After fighting wars on multiple fronts for months, Israel’s is now concerned that unrest in Syria could spill over into its territory. Israel’s also views the end of the Assad regime as a chance to disrupt Iran’s ability to smuggle weapons through Syria to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The Israeli military over the weekend began seizing control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. It said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border.
But the incursion sparked condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and possibly exploiting the chaos in Syria for a land grab. Israel still controls the Golan Heights that it captured from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed — a move not recognized by most of the international community.
Here’s a look at recent developments along the Syrian frontier.
Where are the Israeli troops?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces are preparing to take over a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square miles) of demilitarized no man’s area in the Syrian side. The area between Syria and the Israel’s-Herzog-Golan heights was set up by the U.N after the 1973 Mideast war. Since then, about 1,100 troops of the United Nations peacekeeping force have guarded the region.
Syrian government loses control after rebels storm the capital
During a visit Sunday to a hilltop over the Golan Heights Syria Netanyahu said that because Syrian troops withdrew their positions, that’s why Israel invaded the buffer zone as a ‘temporary defensive line’.
“The peacekeepers at United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF informed that these actions would violate the 1974 disengagement agreement where there ought to be no military forces or activities in the area of,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. He said tension in the buffer zone had diminished and UNDOF continue to adhere to its position. The special consultations for Russia to be held on the issue of a buffer zone are set to convene the Security Council.
The rebels currently fighting in Syria, deposing Assad, and currently holding most of the country are commanded by a former senior al-Qaida militant though he left the organization years ago and has vowed to assign proper elections and let people of any faith.
eacekeepers at (the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF) informed the Israeli counterparts that these actions would constitute a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement, that there should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation,” said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric. He added that the buffer zone was calm and UNDOF peacekeepers remained in their position. The Security Council is scheduled to meet for special consultations called by Russia to discuss the buffer zone issue.
The rebels who ousted Assad and now control much of Syria are led by a former senior al-Qaida militant, although he severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance.
On Monday evening, Netanyahu said Assad’s fall is the “direct result of the heavy blows we landed on Hamas, on Hezbollah and on Iran.” He also said that Israel’s would take the top the of Mount Hermon-Syria-Lebanon border on the highest point of the eastern Mediterranean coast with a feature of 2,814-meter (9,232-feet) high but still within the buffer-zone.
Snowy Mount Hermon on the Golan Heights shared by Israel and Lebanese and Syrian forces, as well as on the Syrian side of the border. This is because alone the United States recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
How long will Israeli troops be in the buffer zone?
Israeli troops entered into the buffer zone on Saturday. In the same day, Saturday it was alleged by the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that armed men attacked the United Nations protection force near Israeli-Lebanese border.
“(The Israeli military) took targeted and temporary control of certain areas near the border to prevent an Oct. 7 scenario from Syria,” Saar said, referring to Hamas’ surprise 2023 attack into Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Dujarric also confirmed the attack that took place earlier on Saturday.
Armed people invaded a U.N. facility close to Hadar, the official said. “(described by some of the soldiers as Ossoho): “After a ‘shooting playing’ with UN peacekeepers guarding the position, the base was partially stripped.” There were no casualties.”
Forced later regained some of the stolen effects, “including a number of the weapons and ammunition that had been taken,” added he.
People of the region disparaged this decision. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Israel seek to “take advantage of the absence of authority in the Syrian arena … in setting up for the occupation of additional Syrian territories and establishing a fait accompli that violates international law.
Saudi Arabia also accused Israel of what it described as “determination to preclude chance’s for Syria to regain its security, stability and geographical integrity.”
It is not the first time when Israel croaches into the buffer zone this year.An article by the Associated Press conducted last month on satellite images showed that Israel had been carrying out construction work that may be a new road from July along the border with Syria some of which it had crossed into the buffer zone while carrying out the construction.
After the AP’s report, the united nations force said that the Israeli military has violated the ceasefire agreement with Syria severely.ry found that Israel had been working on a construction project, possibly a new road, along the border with Syria from as early as July, and had in some cases entered the buffer zone during construction. Following the AP report, U.N. forces warned that the Israeli military has committed “severe violations” of its ceasefire deal with Syria.
Is Israel invading Syria?
The leaders of Israelis political and army have affirmed that they have taken the areas of the buffer zone as tactical takes and they have no intention of entering other parts of the Syrian territories.
“The current plan is that it is just a temporary measure to ensure stability in the border is maintained because of the buffer zone, and the U.N. forces,” a military official said on anonymity as per military regulation.The official recalled that in 2014, UN peacekeepers vacated the zone after the buffer area was attacked by the al-Qaida-linked Syrian rebels.her parts of Syrian territory.
“The plan at the moment is that this is a temporary step to make sure stability is kept in the border, making sure the buffer zone is kept, and the U.N. forces can stay,” said a military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military guidelines.
The official noted that in 2014, U.N. peacekeepers fled the buffer zone after al-Qaida-linked Syrian rebels attacked their encampments. There was an attack by armed men on U.N forces over the weekend and Israel did not want a repeat of what had happened, the official added.
Israel is not at the moment attempting to alter the border or to ‘jointlyness’ into Syria, said Carmit Valensi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv based think tank.
“At the moment, it has more of a ‘battle plan’ feel to it, but for the given conditions in Syria,” she said. With the crumbling of the Syrian army, Israel needs to secure its borders until the situation in the region is more favourable, she added.
What are Israel’s interests?
It has claimed that its first vocation at the present instance is to ensure that the anarchy in Syria does not spread into the bordering area.
On Monday, Defense Minister Israel Katz mapped out Israel’s plans for the border area. He assured that after finalizing the takeover of the buffer zone, another “security zone” beyond it would be established through the demarcation of destruction of heavy artillery all over Syria and no further supply of weapons through Syria to Iran would be allowed.
During a parliamentary debate on Monday Gilead Saar of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Israel has targeted and destroyed multiple locations storing chemical weapons and long-range Scud missiles to ensure that they are not used against it by a hostile regime. Saar did not specify when the strikes took place. Officials commented that Israel will most likely perform operations against objectives throughout Syria.
Israel is reported to be plotting to lure Syria Druze, who are a religious group similar to the one in Israel, Jordan and Lebanon, who have kept some contact alive despite the conflict.he border area. He said that after completing the takeover of the buffer zone, Israel would create a “security zone” beyond it by destroying heavy artillery across Syria and preventing Iran from smuggling weapons through Syria into Lebanon.
Foreign Minister Saar said Monday that Israel has struck multiple sites holding chemical weapons and long-range missiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors. Saar did not say when the strikes occurred. Analysts said Israel is likely to continue carrying out strikes against targets across Syria.
Israel is planning outreach to Syria’s Druze population, a close-knit religious minority that also lives in Israel, Jordan and Lebanon and has maintained some ties across borders.
Israel is also attempting to talk to other factions of the Syrian rebellion so that Iranian backed militants do not regain territory, Valensi said.
Since March 2017, Israel discreetly has distributed food, medicine, clothing and other supplies to southern Syria’s needy through “Operation Good Neighbor” until its halt in 2018.. Over 4000 wounded and sick Syrians have been treated in Israel or in mobile field hospitals, and the few non-di plomatic bets have never been more important.