ISRAELI ARMY DEPLOYS ADDITIONAL FORCES ON BORDER WITH SYRIA, SCENE OF CIVIL WAR CLASHES

Sat 07 December 2024:

The Israeli army announced on Saturday that it has decided to deploy additional forces along its border with Syria in response to recent advances made by anti-regime groups in Syria’s civil war.

In a statement, the Israeli army said: “Following an assessment of the situation, it was decided to call up additional forces for defensive operations in the Golan Heights, near the Syrian border.”

The army added that the deployment of additional troops would bolster defense efforts in the area and prepare for various scenarios on the front lines, though no further details were provided.

Israeli military radio said the reinforcement of forces was a response to the “advances of Syrian rebels.”

Kan news reported, citing two unnamed sources, that Israel and the United States are “detecting signs of certain collapse” in the Syrian army, and that one of Israel’s main concerns is that the rebels will advance as far south as the Israeli border with Syria in the Golan Heights.

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Earlier on Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi held an assessment on the developments in Syria, as the rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured the key central city of Hama.

The Israeli military assessment was held with the IDF General Staff Forum, the military’s top brass.

“The IDF is following events and is preparing for any scenario in attack and defense,” the military said in a statement. “The IDF will not allow a threat near the Syrian-Israeli border and will act to thwart any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel.”

Amid the growing concern, two senior Israeli officials told the Axios news site that the collapse of regime defense lines in the past 24 hours had happened faster than expected.

A US official who also spoke to the site said that Israel has expressed concern to Washington over both a potential radical Islamist takeover of Syria and an increased presence of Iranian forces in the country to back Assad.

At the same time, an official told The Times of Israel anonymously that Israel’s interest in the renewed fighting in Syria is “that they continue fighting one another.”

They added: “It’s entirely clear to us that one side is Salafi jihadists and the other side is Iran and Hezbollah. We want them to weaken one another.”

The official stressed that Israel is not getting involved on either side. “We are prepared for any scenario and we will act accordingly.”

The civil war in Syria has intensified in recent days, with anti-regime groups, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, fighting regime forces since Nov. 27 and making significant advances.

Anti-regime forces captured much of central Aleppo on Nov. 30, following a rapid push from its western countryside.

In their latest offensive Thursday, the groups seized the center of Hama, solidifying control of the city and forcing regime forces to retreat.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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