The delicate geopolitical balance in the Middle East has been further strained by a significant expansion of Israeli military presence in Southern Syria, particularly in the vicinity of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, Israeli forces have moved decisively, effectively seizing control of the UN-mandated buffer zone and conducting repeated cross-border operations.
This escalation is rapidly raising fears of a permanent occupation and has extinguished any immediate prospects of détente with Syria’s new government.
The New Reality on the Ground
Following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, Israel declared the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement with Syria void and promptly advanced into the demilitarized buffer zone.
Since then, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been establishing a tangible presence:
- Permanent Installations: Israeli forces have erected checkpoints, established new military installations on strategic hilltops overlooking Syrian territory, and set up landing pads on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
- Deep Incursions: Israeli troops are reportedly operating up to nine miles (approximately 15 kilometers) inside Syrian territory, conducting ground raids into villages in the Quneitra province.
- Frequent Operations: Syrian state media reports indicate a dramatic surge in Israeli military activity since late 2024, counting over 1,000 airstrikes and more than 400 ground raids into the southern provinces.
Recent raids have included setting up temporary checkpoints and briefly detaining Syrian civilians.
Israel’s Justification vs. Local Fears
Israel justifies its military actions as essential for national security, asserting its need to clear out militant groups and prevent weapons from falling into the hands of “hostile forces” in the resulting power vacuum.
However, for residents of the Syrian villages along the border, the reality is a swap of one regime for another.
Locals in areas like Beit Jin and Quneitra describe an atmosphere of tension and fear, with checkpoints, night raids, and weapons confiscations becoming routine.
A raid in Beit Jin last month, which reportedly resulted in 13 civilian deaths, has amplified concerns that Israel’s objective is not temporary security, but a permanent land grab to create a miles-wide security buffer.
International and Regional Ramifications
The expansion has created a significant point of friction on several fronts:
- Syrian Government Response: The interim government in Damascus, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has strongly condemned the Israeli actions as violations of its sovereignty.
Al-Sharaa has called on Israel to withdraw to the pre-December 8, 2024 lines and insisted on adherence to the 1974 agreement, warning that the push for a new demilitarized zone is dangerous.
- Undermining Diplomacy: The continued Israeli presence and frequent strikes have stalled any potential US-brokered security talks between Israel and the new Syrian leadership.
- International Criticism: The move has been widely criticized as a violation of international accords. Human Rights Watch has also accused Israeli forces of abuses, including forced displacement and the unlawful transfer of Syrian detainees to Israel.
As Israeli armored vehicles continue to patrol deep into Syria, the international community watches nervously.
The creation of this de facto buffer zone by Israel risks further destabilizing a region already reeling from years of conflict, placing the Israeli-Syrian border on an increasingly precarious footing.
What's Your Reaction?
Leave your vote
