Israel has announced plans to create a “sterile defense zone” in southern Syria following significant military operations and the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Israeli forces recently advanced into the demilitarized zone, taking control of key strategic positions, including an abandoned Syrian military post on Mount Hermon, overlooking Damascus.
Defense Minister Israel Katz explained that the defense zone aims to prevent the formation of terrorist networks in Syria without requiring a permanent Israeli presence. Katz also confirmed that Israel’s navy successfully targeted Syrian naval vessels during a series of overnight strikes.
“The [Israeli military] has been operating in Syria in recent days to strike and destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel,” Katz stated while visiting a naval base in Haifa.
The recent wave of Israeli air strikes marks one of the largest air operations in the country’s history. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Israeli forces carried out around 250 air strikes over 48 hours, targeting airports, radar installations, signal stations, and weapons depots across various Syrian governorates. Key targets included airports in Homs, Qamishli, and Damascus.
Israel’s strikes are aimed at neutralizing military assets that could fall into the hands of opposition forces and other hostile entities. Israeli officials cited concerns over potential threats emanating from Syria’s strategic facilities, especially during a period of political upheaval.
Israel’s military operations, however, have drawn criticism. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the U.S. government’s support for Israel, arguing that the Syrian people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their nation free from external interference. UN peacekeepers noted that Israel’s actions in the buffer zone violate a 50-year ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria.
Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, suggested that Israel is taking advantage of Syria’s internal turmoil to expand its strategic foothold. “Israel called it temporary, but we know the implications when Israel says temporary,” Bishara remarked, referencing Israel’s longstanding presence in the occupied West Bank.
These recent developments further complicate an already volatile region. Israel remains committed to securing its northern border against potential threats, while Syria struggles with the aftermath of regime collapse and ongoing instability.
