Israel Takes Control of Syrian Buffer Zone
The Israeli military has tightened its grip on the Golan Heights, taking control of a demilitarized zone on the Syrian side, citing the "collapse" of a longstanding agreement that separated the warring neighbors.
“We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” Prime Minister Netanyahu declared as he ordered the actions on Sunday.
Israel’s military action came after Syrian rebel groups, led by the Islamist opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), drove the Assad regime’s forces from Damascus and seized control of the Syrian capital. Students
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ordered residents of five Syrian villages inside the buffer zone to remain in their homes until further notice.
The move by Israel, which annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 after seizing it from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Six-Day War, raises concerns about the future for the region.
The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau about 60km (40 miles) southwest of Damascus, become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing Syrian conflict.
For Israel, the collapse of the 1974 disengagement agreement, which had maintained a delicate peace with Syria, highlights the complex geopolitical realities it faces.
Navigating a New Reality:
“The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus, offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers,” Netanyahu said.
Israel has long viewed the Syrian conflict with a mix of concern and opportunity. Israeli officials, while not directly enacting the Syrian civil war, have carried out airstrikes within Syria, targeting targets linked to Iran and its proxy Hezbollah.
“The IDF has seized extremist positions in the buffer zone,” Netanyahu confirmed.
Israel stated its intentions were purely defensive, seeking to prevent a power vacuum and fears that chemical weapons could fall into the hands of extremist groups.
A Precarious Balance
The Golan Heights has become a symbol of Israel’s ongoing security concerns. Thousands of Israeli settlers now live there, alongside around 20,000 Syrians, many of them Druze — an offshoot of Islam which borders Israel.
The Syrian rebels, sometime allies with Israel previously during the conflict against ISIS and al-Qaeda, now pose a new challenge for Israel.
**Anticipating the Unforeseen
Northeastern Syria was considered under Hertz 治
“We will need to take these matters into account when we make decisions,” Netanyahu stated.
How might Israel’s actions in the Golan Heights affect the dynamics of the Syrian Civil War?
## Interview: Israel’s Move on the Golan Heights
**Host:** Joining us now is Dr. Anya Petrova, a Middle East historian and expert on the Syrian conflict. Dr. Petrova, earlier today we saw reports of Israel tightening its control over the Golan Heights, even moving into a demilitarized zone on the Syrian side. Can you help our viewers understand what’s happening?
**Dr. Petrova:** The situation is certainly escalating. Israel’s move stems from the recent developments in the Syrian Civil War. As you mentioned, rebel forces, primarily Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have made significant gains, even taking control of parts of Damascus. This has created a security vacuum in the buffer zone along the Golan Heights, which Israel sees as a potential threat.
**Host:** So, Israel is acting preemptively, fearing that the power vacuum could be filled by groups hostile to Israel?
**Dr. Petrova:** Precisely. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statement about not allowing any hostile force to establish itself on the border reflects this concern. Remember, Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 after capturing it from Syria in the Six-Day War [[1](https://www.britannica.com/place/Golan-Heights)]. Maintaining control over this strategically important region is a top priority for Israel.
**Host:** But doesn’t Israel’s action risk further inflaming tensions in the region?
**Dr. Petrova:** Absolutely. This escalation is deeply concerning. Moving into the demilitarized zone, even with the stated intention of preventing hostile forces from gaining a foothold, is a significant shift and could be seen as a violation of existing agreements. It’s likely to provoke a reaction from Syria, Iran, and other regional players, potentially fueling a wider conflict.
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, thank you for providing your insightful analysis of this complex situation. We’ll continue to follow this story closely.
