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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israel has witnessed the overthrow of the government of Syrian President Bashar al Assad quickly with a mixed sense of hope and concern as officials consider the consequences of one of the most significant strategic shifts in the Middle East in recent years.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Assad's overthrow as a "historic day" following Israel's attack on Assad's supporters, Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has triggered a chain reaction across the region.
"This certainly creates new very important opportunities for the State of Israel. However, this is also not without risks," he said during a visit to the border area on Sunday, December 8, 2024, quoted by Reuters.
Israel has pushed tanks through the border to the buffer zone with Syria to prevent unrest from spreading there, but has stated its intention not to get involved in the conflict affecting its neighbors.
Netanyahu said that Israel is pursuing a policy of good neighboring and will "extend a hand of peace" to the Druze, Kurds, Christians, and Muslims.
"We will follow the developments closely. We will do what is necessary to protect our borders and ensure our security," he said in a recorded statement.
The swift advance of Syrian rebel forces since capturing Aleppo last week has brought further chaos to the region, already shaken by the shocks of war in Gaza and Israel's subsequent campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
"Currently, if we are not attacked, we will only maintain the current situation," said Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis to Reuters.
"Do not think that the threat of this Shia-Iranian axis has completely disappeared, indeed there have been changes, but we need everyone ... to be more vigilant about this," said Akunis.
Last night, the Israeli military said they did not interfere in Syrian internal affairs, but will "act as needed to maintain the buffer zone and protect Israel and its civilians."
The rapid collapse of the Syrian government has presented Israel with various challenges and opportunities, said Dina Lisnyansky, a regional political specialist at Tel Aviv University.
Iran's inability to protect its longtime ally, Assad, has highlighted the weaknesses caused by Israel's relentless campaign against Hezbollah, which has shaken up Iran's long-standing proxy, destroyed most feared missile arsenals, and killed most of its leaders.
However, the progress of different rebel groups rooted in the Islamist ideology of Al Qaeda risks reigniting chaos in Syria and creating new security threats on Israel's border.
"It really depends on what happens next in Syria, " said Lisnyansky. "We need to know if this will lead to peace or perhaps a new civil war could occur in Syria, which of course would endanger our borders," she said.
Golan Heights
In response to developments in Syria, the Israeli army announced that they were increasing their presence in the Golan Heights, deploying troops to key locations in the demilitarized zone, Al Mayadeen reported.
This step, according to the Israeli military, is aimed at securing Israeli settlements in the area and protecting the safety of Israeli settlers, due to concerns about potential militant attacks.
"The Israeli army will continue to take necessary actions to maintain the demilitarized zone and protect the country and its people," the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reports indicated increased military activity, including the entry of Israeli forces into Khan Arnabeh in the occupied Golan Heights.
In addition, the IDF announced that the occupied Golan Heights on the border with Syria is now a closed military zone.
Meanwhile, Syrian sources said that Israel is building a buffer zone along its border with Syria.
In addition, Walla news reported that Israel is in direct communication with various groups in Syria, including the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, through intermediaries. The message from Israel, according to the report, urges these groups to stay away from the border areas.
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