Israel to attack southern Syria

Israel confirmed that it is carrying out strikes in southern Syria, while the new Syrian government is calling for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory.

“We will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in response to the strikes. “Any attempt by the Syrian regime forces and the country’s terrorist organizations to establish themselves in the security zone in southern Syria will be met with fire.

Isareli Forces: Occupying delimiterized buffer zone

Israeli forces have been occupying the demilitarized buffer zone along Syria’s border since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that Israeli forces will remain in the buffer zone, which lies between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, for the foreseeable future.

During the 1967 war, Israel took control of much of the Golan Heights from Syria and later annexed the area, a move that the international community has largely not recognized.

Mr. Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces will remain in the buffer zone “for an indefinite period to protect our communities and thwart any threat.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the new Syrian government called for the “immediate and unconditional withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Syria, condemning their presence as a “blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty.”

Last week, Katz stated that IDF troops will also stay in certain parts of southern Lebanon, beyond the deadline set for a complete withdrawal under its ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, in order to “ensure the protection of all Israeli communities and maintain deterrence against threats from Lebanon.”

History of Israel and Syria

Syria and several other Arab nations opposed the founding of the Jewish state after Israel established itself in 1948.

Syria participated in the first Arab-Israeli conflict, which Israel won and concluded in 1949 with the signing of armistices.

As a result, Syria maintained sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a vital area that borders Israel, while Israel still held the majority of the territory.

In order to retake lost territory, especially the Golan Heights, Syria and Egypt unexpectedly attacked Israel on Yom Kippur in October 1973.

Israeli forces subsequently drove back the Syrian soldiers, despite their initial triumph. A ceasefire mediated by the UN brought the conflict to a conclusion, but Syria was unable to retake the Golan Heights.

The region’s focus changed in 2011 when the Syrian Civil War broke out.

Despite the devastation caused by the conflict, Israel worries about Iranian influence in Syria due to Iranian-backed militias operating near its border.

Israel has also carried out airstrikes in Syria in an effort to restrict Iranian military presence close to its borders and stop weaponry transfers to Hezbollah.

Following the swift offensive that removed Syria’s long-time president Assad, Israel conducted hundreds of additional airstrikes on Syrian military targets, claiming it was trying to prevent these assets from falling into the hands of hostile forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, delegates at Syria’s national dialogue conference condemned what they described as inflammatory comments from Mr. Netanyahu.

In their final statement, they urged the international community to push Israel to cease its “aggressive actions and violations” and denounced “Israel’s intrusion into Syrian territory.”