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Israel continues to conduct military operations in Syria, taking advantage of the surprising fall of the Assad regime which left the war-torn country in shock.
Over the night of December 14 and 15, more than 75 Israeli strikes hit bases and equipment of the now dissolved Syrian Arab Army, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The strikes targeted the governorates of Rif Dimashq, Daraa, Hama and Homs.
The London-based monitoring group said that the targets included missile depots and strategic tunnels near the towns of Tell Mneen and al-Dumayr close to the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Besides the strikes, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) expanded its control in Daraa entering several new towns on December 15, per Syrian media.
Locals in the town of Koayiah in the western countryside of the governorate were asked to hand over their weapons to the IDF. In addition, the SOHR said that Israeli troops cut off a key road linking the towns of Saida and al-Malgah in the same area.
Addressing recent IDF operations for the first time in interview with the Syrian TV news channel on December 14, Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the Syrian Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that spearheaded the overthrow of the al-Assad regime, declares that Israel has “no more excuses” to carry out airstrikes in Syria.
Al-Sharaa said that the recent Israeli attacks on Syrian soil crossed red lines and threatened an unjustified escalation in the region.
Without explicitly mentioning Israel, al-Sharaa implied that under his leadership, Syria will not attack the Jewish state. He said that at this stage Syria will not be dragged into conflicts that may lead to further destruction, with reconstruction and stability the main priorities.
He added that Iran’s presence in Syria posed a great danger to Syria itself, to neighboring countries and the Gulf. “We were able to end the Iranian presence in Syria, but we are not enemies of the Iranian people.”
Commenting on the situation in Syria, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on December 15 that the defense budget must be increased “in the face of growing threats.”
“Israel must be able to defend itself, on its own, against any threat,” Katz tol the Nagel Committee, which examines defense spending and the design of military forces for the future, according to a ministry statement.
“The immediate risks to the country have not disappeared and the recent developments in Syria are increasing the intensity of the threat, despite the rebel leaders seeking to present a semblance of moderation,” he added.
In addition, Hebrew media reported that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and the head of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, covertly visited Jordan and held talks Friday with Jordanian generals on the situation in Syria.
The Walla news site said that the talks were held with Ahmad Husni, director of the General Intelligence Department, and with other senior Jordanian officers.
Israel’s Kan public broadcaster also reported that talks come against the backdrop of fears in Israel that extremist groups in Jordan will be inspired by the Syrian rebels’ swift overthrowing of the Assad regime, and will try in turn to oust the Hashemite Kingdom’s ruler, King Abdullah II.
Citing senior Israeli sources, Kan reports that top Israeli officials, including in the security cabinet, had discussed the possibility of what happened in Syria being replicated in Jordan.
Israel appears to be moving on all levels to understand the new situation in Syria and take advantage of it. One clear gain for the country was however isolating Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem admitted on December 15 that the group had lost its supply route through Syria following the fall of the Assad regime.
Qassem doesn’t mention Assad by name and said the group cannot make a judgment on Syria’s new government until the country stabilizes.
The Hezbollah chief also stressed Syria’s new rulers should not recognize neighboring Israel or establish ties with it.
“We hope that this new party in power will see Israel as an enemy and not normalize relations with it,” Qassem said in a televised speech, his first since toppling Assad following an offensive launched on November 27, the same day that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect.
It’s worth noting that the ceasefire in Lebanon, which was brokered by the United States, continues to hold up, despite repeated violations by the IDF.
Now isolated, Hezbollah will likely tolerate Israeli military actions more than before. While this is a blow to the group, it is important to remember that the Hamas Movement tolerated a similar situation before launching its devastating surprise attack against Israel on October 7 of last year. This means that it is too early to conclude that Hezbollah is over as a military force.
As for Syria, the future of the country remains in question. The new government, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, has been sending positive signs to all sides inside and outside the country. However, it is unclear if it will follow up with its promises.
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amerikunt only move when ordered to by obese ugly female–otherwise loser tantrums lick taliban anuz
heheheh
us special forces were spotted in the city of kobani in northern syria earlier today
us forces have occupied a former russian military base following the withdrawal of russian units.
russia is totally humiliated again!!!
no : only in your mind, but there isn’t much space in there.
the russians are the only ones retreating, everyone else is taking what ever is left behind.
there is no reason the russians couldn’t hold their bases along the coast, but they are being real shy there too, silly, really silly and weak.
in the realm of the great game, wins and defeats happen. the same was true about americans in vietnam and afghanistan. nobody’s going to win all the time child.
la grande israele è una realtà auguri.
i remember just last year, hez was showing off it’s “huge” arsenal of rockets and missiles that could “wipe izzy out”….looks to me like that was all talk, and bluster.
radical judaism is in fact the same as judaism. synagogues in the usa must be banned. shoabergs and shekelsteins must be sent back to poland.
why aren’t the russians able to take advantage like the israelis and turks?
can’t the russians spare 2000-3000 solldiers to take some territory around their bases and keep hold of their investments?