Israel takes advantage of Syrian anarchy to conquer territories and power

In its unimpeded territorial seizure and destruction of Syria’s military infrastructure, Tel Aviv hopes to expand its borders into a newly divided Syria or use its gains as a bargaining chip in a grand bargain for regional primacy.

Thirteen years ago, Syria’s public squares burst into flames of unrest. But after more than a decade of resisting a foreign-backed war aimed at overthrowing the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which was thwarted by interventions by Iran, Russia, Hezbollah and countless other Syrian and non-Syrian forces, his government collapsed in a matter of just 11 days.

Assad fled in secret, leaving behind a Syrian Arab Republic in ruins and informing almost no one about his plans to abandon the sinking ship.

Former al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), in alliance with other militant opposition factions, quickly took control of the country. The head of the UN-designated terrorist organization, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, also known as Ahmad al-Sharaa, declared himself an unelected president, forming a “salvation government” to guide the country through a transitional phase. Beside and behind him stands Turkiye, who is determined to exert strategic and pervasive influence over the direction of the new Syria.

In the midst of this monumental reshaping of the political map of West Asia, Israel seized the opportunity to act. Through the biblically named ‘Operation Bashan Arrow’, the occupying state launched a strategic campaign against the remnants of the Syrian army, who had almost abandoned their positions. Nonstop airstrikes targeting Syria’s critical infrastructure marked the beginning of deeper Israeli involvement in the Syrian arena.

Israel’s military intervention was the culmination of years of preparation. In 2018, Israel attempted to create a buffer zone in southern Syria, only to be thwarted by Syrian and allied forces who recaptured the disengagement zone and the surrounding western mountains that separate the border with neighboring Lebanon.

But with the Syrian state now in tatters, Tel Aviv saw a rare and irreplaceable opportunity to go for the jugular. Years of anticipation and strategic planning materialized into a rapid campaign aimed at neutralizing perceived threats and securing long-term advantages.

The ‘Battle Between Wars’

Syria’s collapse into chaos after 2011, marked by the arrival of foreign jihadists and the proliferation of armed extremist factions, gave Israel the conditions to quietly secure its strategic interests.

The first notable Israeli attack on Syrian territory occurred in Jamraya in early 2013. This marked the beginning of what Israel called a “battle between wars,” a calculated effort to achieve multiple long-term objectives.

One of Tel Aviv’s main priorities during this campaign was to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons from Iran, via Syria, to Hezbollah in Lebanon, as this could tip the balance of power in the region.

Another critical objective was to prevent Iran and its allied resistance forces from establishing permanent bases and logistics centers in Syria, which Israel viewed as direct threats to its security.

Another objective involved weakening Syria’s military infrastructure to prevent the country from rebuilding its strategic capabilities, re-emerging as a regional power, and establishing a buffer zone adjacent to the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

Dismantling Syria, strike for strike

Although Israel’s broader ambitions were not realized, its tactical gains during the intervening years were significant. Frequent airstrikes have degraded the capabilities of resistance forces, and Israel has leveraged Syria’s internal challenges – its economic collapse, social disorder and overstretched Syrian military resources – to establish its dominance. These operations set the stage for the large-scale attack that followed Assad’s fall.

The collapse of the Syrian government marked the beginning of Israel’s most expansive military campaign in the region. Under the banner of ‘Bashan Arrow’, Israel has launched a relentless series of attacks against the Syrian state and its defenses.

More than 500 airstrikes targeted critical infrastructure, including military bases, radar systems, air force installations, intelligence headquarters and scientific research facilities. Not even the capital, Damascus, was spared.

The aerial bombardments were accompanied by a ground incursion focused on border areas near Lebanon. Israeli forces advanced inland southwest of Damascus, targeting the strategic peaks of Mount Hermon.

Last week, these heights were declared “recaptured” by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, 51 years after the initial loss of Tel Aviv, in an operation that dismantled years of fortifications built by the Syrian military and its allies in the Axis of Resistance. .

US support and almost regional silence

Israel’s actions were met with muted responses on the global stage. Arab states issued routine condemnations that carried little weight, raising suspicions of tacit approval or alignment with Israel’s normalization agenda – even if that was not their intention.

In a statement, the Arab League conveyed “its full condemnation of Israel, the occupying power, for its illegal attempts to exploit internal developments in Syria, whether through the seizure of additional land in the Golan Heights or the declaration of nullity of the Agreement of Dismissal of 1974”.

Saudi Arabia sharply criticized Israel’s actions in the Golan Heights, warning that they would “ruin Syria’s chances of restoring security”, while the UAE “strongly” condemned the expansion of the occupation and reaffirmed its “commitment to unity , sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state”.

Western responses were similarly restrained, with European states offering cautious disapproval. In contrast, the US provided unequivocal support. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan framed Israel’s actions as a legitimate exercise of its right to self-defense.

This endorsement coincided with a visit to Israel by General Michael Kurilla, head of US Central Command, signifying operational coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv. US forces also carried out more than 70 airstrikes in Syria during this period, ostensibly targeting ISIS but likely focused on degrading Syria’s military capabilities.

Israel’s strategic objectives in Syria

Several strategic objectives have driven Israel’s campaign in Syria – all aimed at ensuring its dominance and neutralizing potential threats. One of its main objectives was the elimination of any remaining Syrian military forces and critical installations capable of challenging the occupation state. Another focus was to prevent Hezbollah from acquiring advanced weapons via Syrian territory.

Such arms transfers were seen as a significant threat to Israel’s security calculus. Israel also sought to dismantle the presence of Iranian advisers and resistance factions, which used Syria as a logistical and operational hub.

Securing territories in southern Syria was equally vital, as Israel aims to establish buffer zones that would protect its northern borders and safeguard strategic sites such as Mount Hermon. In addition to immediate military concerns, Tel Aviv views the recently occupied territories as potential leverage in future negotiations.

By maintaining control over these areas, Israel hopes to impose favorable terms in any future peace negotiations and secure international recognition of its sovereignty over the Golan Heights. At the same time, Israel seeks to mitigate threats from extremist opposition factions in Syria, some of which openly espouse jihadist ideologies hostile to Israel.

While these efforts have yielded significant short-term gains, Israel’s long-term security remains uncertain. The new Syrian leadership under the HTS-appointed interim government is ideologically – at least on paper – opposed to Israel and closely aligned with Turkiye.

Turkish leaders, emboldened by Assad’s fall, have asserted their influence in the region, signaling a potential strategic rivalry with Israel.

Regional repercussions

Israel’s actions in Syria have had far-reaching implications for West Asia. Neighboring Arab states, particularly Jordan and Egypt, find themselves in increasingly precarious positions. The rise of extremist Islamic movements aligned with Ankara, coupled with Israel’s growing influence, has left these normalizing nations struggling with security concerns and diminished regional influence.

At the same time, Israel’s moves have deepened divisions within the Arab world. Normalization efforts with Israel by certain Arab states have further fractured alliances, leaving the region disunited in its response to the Syrian crisis.

In the end, the greatest victims of this geopolitical reorganization are the Arab peoples themselves – weakened, fragmented and increasingly marginalized in a rapidly changing regional order.

With information from The Cradle*