“Free opportunity”… Will Israel expand geographically at the expense of Syria?

These developments raise questions about goals Israel And her future plans Safety vacuum And a politician.

Israeli expansion

She announced Israel Broadcasting Authority Shieldag forces took control of… Jabal al-Sheikh region of Syria Without any resistance. In an extraordinary move, the Israeli government decided to occupy the area and create a buffer zone under the control of the Israeli army on the border with Syria.

Avichai Adraee, a spokesman for the Israeli army, issued an urgent warning to residents of southern Syria, urging people from the following villages and towns to stay in their homes: Ufani, Quneitra, Al-Hamidi, Samdani Al-Gharbi and Al-Kahtaniiah.

Adraee pointed out that the ongoing fighting in the region “forces the IS to move”, stressing that the army “has no intention of harming the civilian population”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Assad’s fall as a “historic day,” stressing that “Israel will not allow any hostile power to establish itself on its borders.”

This announcement was accompanied by the announcement of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on the deployment of additional forces in the buffer zone to ensure the protection of settlements on the Golan Heights.

Although Israel has announced that this presence is temporary, Nidal Kananeh, Israel Affairs Editor at Sky News Arabia, pointed out that “Israel has a history of turning temporary steps into permanent ones.

Control of the Mount Hermon region is a “free strategic achievement” for Israel, especially since it is an area that has witnessed bloody battles in previous wars between Syria and Israel.

Israel’s Goals in Syria: Security or Expansion?

Israel justifies its recent moves by saying that it aims to protect the settlements in the Golan and prevent the infiltration of armed groups into its territory. However, developments indicate that Israel’s moves go beyond mere defense to bolster its regional influence.

The area of ​​the buffer zone controlled by Israel is about 235 square kilometers, which is equivalent to about 60% of the area of ​​the Gaza Strip.

This extensive control was achieved without any significant resistance, prompting Netanyahu to boast politically that Israel had obtained these lands without firing a single shot.

But analyst Kanan warned that Israel may not only adhere to the buffer zone line, but may extend its control deeper into Syrian territory if it sees security weaknesses in neighboring areas.

Opportunity for Israel or danger for the region?

The withdrawal of the Syrian army from the Mount Hermon region opened the way for Israel to expand rapidly, taking advantage of the security chaos the country is witnessing. The Israeli occupation army has warned residents of five towns in southern Syria not to leave their homes, reflecting Israel’s full control of the border region.

However, Kanaana pointed out that “the threat of armed factions in these areas seems exaggerated,” as there were no real military conflicts or direct threats to justify this step. Israel’s decision to capture Mount Hermon appears to have been made in advance as part of a strategic plan to ensure Israel’s superiority in the Syrian arena.

Israel’s expansion in Syria is causing a lot of concern among neighboring countries, especially Jordan and Lebanon. A large Israeli presence on the Syrian border could reshape the security and political map in the region.

In addition, this expansion reflects Israel’s desire to use the historic moment after the fall of Assad to strengthen its regional influence.

With the fall of the Assad regime, the future of Syria has become uncertain, as the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has become one of the main players in opposition-held areas, a situation that is causing concern in Israel and Western countries over the possibility that Syria becomes the center of extremist groups.

But Kanaana pointed out that Israel sees this chaos as an opportunity to strengthen its security by controlling strategic areas, such as Mount Hermon and the Golan border areas.

In light of the security and political vacuum in Syria, the region faces major challenges that may lead to new conflicts or unprecedented political arrangements.

According to Kanaana, “the most important question remains: Will Israel stop at the borders of the buffer zone, or does it plan to expand its control by taking advantage of the chaos?”