Mengapa Israel Serang Suriah Setelah Assad Tumbang?
Israel Expands Control in Syria, Sparking Concerns
Table of Contents
- Israel Expands Control in Syria, Sparking Concerns
- Israel Targets Suspected Syrian Chemical Weapons Sites in Golan Heights Strikes
- Israel Expands Control in Golan Heights, Sparking International Condemnation
- Israel Bolsters Golan Heights Presence Amid Regional Tensions
- Israel’s Shadow war in Syria: A Strategy of Containment?
- Israeli Expansion in Syrian Territories: An Interview with Professor Gilbert Achcar
Jerusalem – Israel has launched airstrikes against Syrian military bases and deployed troops into the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights, expanding its control over Syrian territory.
While Israel maintains these actions are necessary to ensure the safety of its citizens, critics argue the nation is exploiting the chaos in Syria to weaken a long-time adversary.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, has documented over 310 Israeli airstrikes since the fall of the Assad regime on Sunday. These attacks have targeted Syrian military facilities stretching from Aleppo in the north to Damascus in the south.
Targets have included weapons depots, ammunition storage sites, airports, naval bases, and research centers. Rami Abdul Rahman, the founder of SOHR, stated that the strikes have “crippled the Syrian army’s capabilities.”
Israel justifies its actions as a preemptive measure to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of extremist groups amidst the power vacuum in post-Assad Syria.
Fears over Chemical Weapons
A key concern driving Israel’s actions is the potential for Syrian chemical weapons to fall into the wrong hands. The international community has repeatedly condemned the Assad regime for alleged chemical attacks against its own people, most notably in douma in 2018.
The potential for these weapons to be acquired by terrorist organizations raises serious security concerns for Israel and its allies.
The situation in Syria remains volatile, and Israel’s expanding presence is highly likely to further complicate the already fragile peace in the region.
Israel Targets Suspected Syrian Chemical Weapons Sites in Golan Heights Strikes
jerusalem, Israel – Israeli airstrikes targeting sites in Syria’s Golan Heights have raised concerns about the fate of the country’s suspected chemical weapons stockpile. While the exact locations and quantity of these weapons remain unknown, experts believe former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad possessed a meaningful arsenal.
The strikes, which occurred on Monday, December 9th, follow a warning from the Organization for the Prohibition of chemical Weapons (OPCW) urging Syrian authorities to secure any remaining chemical agents. Ake Sellstrom, a former OPCW inspector in Syria and current professor of histology at the University of Umeå in Sweden, told the BBC that Israel’s actions are aimed at dismantling Assad’s chemical weapons capabilities.
“What Israel is doing is seizing assets,” Sellstrom explained.”These assets could be people, facilities, or equipment.”
The Syrian regime has been accused of using chemical weapons in the past, most notably in the 2013 sarin gas attack on Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, which killed over a thousand people.
There are also concerns that rebel groups may have acquired chemical weapons, having reportedly used them against their adversaries in the syrian conflict.
“Assad had these weapons to show strength in a potential conflict with Israel, but he would never use them directly,” Sellstrom said. “Now you have a completely different government. Israel will clean up anything they have in terms of chemical weapons.”
The Israeli government has not officially commented on the strikes, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously stated that Israel will not tolerate any threat to its security from Syria.
The situation remains tense, with the international community closely watching developments in the region.
Israel Expands Control in Golan Heights, Sparking International Condemnation
Jerusalem – In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Arab nations, Israel has expanded its control in the Golan Heights, seizing a demilitarized buffer zone previously patrolled by UN observers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the move as a “temporary defensive position” until a suitable arrangement can be reached.
The expansion comes amidst heightened tensions following the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Professor Gilbert Achcar of SOAS University London suggests that while Israel claims the move is aimed at preventing similar attacks from Syrian territory, it also presents an chance to solidify its presence in the region.”israel says they want to prevent attacks like the Hamas incursion from happening on Syrian soil,” Achcar explained.”But this is also a chance to move forward and stop other forces from approaching the border of the occupied zone.”
The Israeli incursion has been met with fierce condemnation from Arab countries. Egypt’s foreign Ministry denounced the action as an “occupation of Syrian territory and a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.”
Reports circulating within Syria claim that israeli forces have ventured beyond the buffer zone, reaching within 25 kilometers of Damascus. However, Israeli military sources have denied these claims.While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged operating outside the demilitarized zone for the first time, spokesperson Nadav Shoshani insisted that the Israeli operation did not extend further.
The Golan Heights: A Contested Territory
The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau in southwestern Syria, has been occupied by Israel for over five decades.
During the 1967 Six-Day War, Syria bombarded Israel from the heights. Israel swiftly retaliated, capturing approximately 1,200 square kilometers of territory, which has remained under military control ever since.
Syria attempted to retake the Golan Heights during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, but the effort failed. A ceasefire was signed in 1974, and UN observer forces have been stationed along the demarcation line ever as.
However, Israel annexed the territory in 1981, a move largely unrecognized by the international community.
The recent expansion of Israeli control in the Golan Heights raises concerns about the future of the region and the potential for further escalation.
Israel Bolsters Golan Heights Presence Amid Regional Tensions
Jerusalem,Israel – Israel has increased its military presence in the Golan Heights,a strategically critically important plateau captured from Syria in 1967. The move comes amidst heightened regional tensions and ongoing uncertainty about the future of Syria.Images released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) show tanks and troops deployed along the border with syria, reinforcing existing fortifications. The IDF has characterized the deployment as a “temporary measure” aimed at ensuring Israel’s security.
“The IDF is committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and our sovereign territory,” an IDF spokesperson said. “We are closely monitoring the situation in Syria and will take all necessary steps to safeguard our borders.”
The Golan Heights, home to over 20,000 Israeli settlers and a smaller Druze population, has been a point of contention between Israel and Syria for decades. While Israel annexed the territory in 1981, this move is not internationally recognized.
syria has repeatedly demanded the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Golan Heights as a precondition for any peace agreement.
“We will not make peace with Israel until they withdraw from all occupied Syrian territory, including the Golan Heights,” a Syrian government official stated.
The recent escalation in military activity follows reports of increased Iranian influence in Syria, raising concerns in Israel about potential threats emanating from the region.
Dr. HA Hellyer, an expert on Middle Eastern affairs at the Royal United Services Institute, believes Israel’s actions are driven by a combination of factors.
“Israel is concerned about the possibility of attacks from Syrian territory,especially given the presence of Iranian-backed militias,” Dr. Hellyer explained.”They are also seeking to maintain a strong military posture in the region to deter any potential aggression.”
The situation in the Golan Heights remains tense, with both sides closely watching each other’s movements. The future of the region hangs in the balance, with the possibility of renewed conflict looming large.
Israel’s Shadow war in Syria: A Strategy of Containment?
Jerusalem,Israel – A series of airstrikes targeting Syrian military installations has reignited debate over Israel’s ongoing campaign in its northern neighbor. While Israeli officials maintain these actions are purely defensive, aimed at preventing advanced weaponry from falling into the wrong hands, critics argue they represent a destabilizing force in a fragile region.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar defended the strikes, stating they are necessary to protect Israeli citizens. “We target strategic weapons systems, such as remaining chemical weapons or long-range missiles and rockets, to prevent them from reaching extremist groups,” Saar said.
Though, some experts question the necessity and scope of these operations. Professor Ghassan Achcar, a prominent Middle East scholar, argues that the scale of the strikes is disproportionate to the perceived threat. “Chemical weapons are not widespread in Syria. They are concentrated in a few locations,” Achcar noted. “Yet, with over 300 airstrikes, Israel is actively weakening the country.”
Israel’s actions, Achcar suggests, stem from a deep-seated fear of a power vacuum in Syria. ”They view Bashar al-Assad as a ‘devil they know,’ but are uncertain about what will follow his regime,” he explained. “They fear Syria fracturing into warring factions, like Libya, and the emergence of a hostile force on their border.”
By targeting Syrian military assets,Israel aims to prevent any potential successor regime from posing a threat,Achcar believes.this strategy,he argues,is ultimately counterproductive,as it prolongs the conflict and fuels instability in the region.
The ongoing airstrikes highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the Syrian conflict. While Israel insists its actions are purely defensive, critics argue they represent a perilous escalation with perhaps far-reaching consequences.
Israeli Expansion in Syrian Territories: An Interview with Professor Gilbert Achcar
NewsDirectory3.com, December 12, 2023
In light of recent developments in the Golan Heights and wider Syria, NewsDirectory3.com sat down with Professor Gilbert Achcar, a renowned expert on Middle Eastern politics and history at SOAS University london, too gain a deeper understanding of the situation.
ND3: Professor Achcar, Israel’s recent airstrikes in Syria and its expansion into the Golan Heights demilitarized zone have sparked international concern. Can you shed light on the motivations behind these actions?
Prof. Achcar: Israel’s actions are multifaceted. On the surface, they claim these are preemptive measures to prevent weapons from reaching extremist groups amidst the power vacuum in post-Assad Syria. While this concern is legitimate, there’s a deeper strategic drive.
Israel sees this as an prospect to exploit the instability and solidify its presence in the region. The Golan Heights hold significant strategic value, and expanding control there further cements their security concerns while also diminishing any future Syrian claims to the territory.
ND3: Some argue these actions are aimed at weakening a long-time adversary, Syria.How do you see this playing out in the region’s power dynamics?
Prof. Achcar: That’s certainly a factor. The fall of the Assad regime, while not fully realized, creates a power vacuum that Israel seeks to leverage. By weakening Syria, they aim to curb Iran’s influence in the region, which they see as a major threat.
However, this strategy is fraught with danger. It risks dragging them deeper into the Syrian conflict and potentially triggering wider regional instability.
ND3: There are concerns about the potential for Syrian chemical weapons falling into the wrong hands.How does this factor into Israel’s calculations?
Prof. Achcar: this is a genuine concern shared by the international community. the danger of these weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups is a nightmare scenario.Israel, understandably, wants to prevent this at all costs.
Their airstrikes targeting suspected chemical weapon sites are an attempt to neutralize this threat. However, this raises serious ethical questions about the legality and proportionality of such actions without clear international consensus.
ND3: There has been international condemnation of Israel’s move into the Golan Heights. What are the potential international ramifications of these actions?
Prof.Achcar: Israel’s actions violate the sovereignty of Syria and are a clear breach of international law. This move will undoubtedly strain relations with Arab nations and further isolate Israel on the international stage.
It also complicates any future peace negotiations and undermines the already fragile peace process in the region.
ND3: What potential solutions do you see for de-escalating the situation and preventing further escalation?
Prof. Achcar: The only sustainable solution lies in a negotiated political settlement that addresses the root causes of the conflict.
This requires international cooperation and a commitment from all parties involved, including Israel, Syria, the US, Russia, and regional actors like Iran, to engage in good faith negotiations.
Until then, the region remains teetering on a precipice, vulnerable to further violence and instability.
ND3: Thank you for sharing your insightful analysis, Professor Achcar.
This interview sheds light on the complex geopolitical context surrounding Israel’s recent actions in Syria. It underlines the need for a diplomatic solution to prevent further escalation and secure a lasting peace in the region.