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Israeli Threats Against al-Shara Indefinitely; New Measures in the Golan
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The escalating Israeli threats against interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara, coinciding with its moves in the Golan, reflect attempts to impose new equations on the ground
Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, confirmed during a field tour of Israeli military sites in the buffer zone and on Mount Sheikh in Syria that Israeli forces will continue to be deployed within Syria for an indefinite period, emphasizing that Israel will not retreat from its military presence there.
Gallant issued direct threats to interim Syrian President, Ahmad al-Shara, asserting that Israel will work to strengthen its relations with the Druze community, and announced that starting March 16, Druze individuals will begin working in settlements established on the occupied Golan Heights.
A statement from the Defense Minister's office read: "Every morning when al-Shara opens his eyes in his palace in Damascus, he will see the Israeli army watching him from the heights of Mount Sheikh, and he will know we are here. We are also deployed in all security zones in southern Syria to protect the Golan and Galilee residents from any threat he or his allies may pose."
Gallant added that the Israeli army is "ready to stay in Syria indefinitely," asserting that Israeli control over the "security zone and Mount Sheikh" will continue to ensure the southern region of Syria remains free from any military threats or advanced weaponry.
The Israeli Defense Minister also mentioned that his forces carried out a series of airstrikes on Monday night and Tuesday, targeting over 40 military sites in southern Syria, considering this part of their "announced security policy to prevent any potential threats."
In response, Syrian Interim President, Ahmad al-Shara, dismissed Gallant's statements as "empty words" and, in an interview with Reuters, said, "The Israelis are the last ones who can talk about security after causing the deaths of tens of thousands in Gaza and Lebanon over the past 18 months." He firmly rejected the increasing threats coming from Tel Aviv.
In a report published by the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz on Tuesday, Israeli military sources revealed that the Israeli army is preparing to establish new military sites inside Syria while implementing security measures to prevent the Syrian interim authorities from deploying advanced weapons near Damascus.
The report stated that Tel Aviv has established a security perimeter extending 65 kilometers from the border, allowing only Syrian police forces, while prohibiting the deployment of heavy weapons or long-range missile systems.
The newspaper also confirmed that Israel is enhancing its control over the buffer zone in Syria by deploying three military brigades to ensure no attempts to infiltrate Israeli territory, with restrictions placed on the entry of Syrian civilians into these areas except for those already residing there.
The report further noted that the Israeli army has received direct orders from political leadership to continue preventing any presence of the new Syrian army within 65 kilometers of the border and to block the deployment of missile systems or advanced weaponry near the lines of contact.
