by Joshua Marks
Deployment "until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed," PM's office says.
Israeli troops positioned inside the buffer zone along the Syrian border are there as a temporary measure to prevent terrorists from committing an Oct. 7-style attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
“The collapse of the Syrian regime created a vacuum on Israel’s border and in the buffer zone established by the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement,” his office stated.
“Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7-style attacks. That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border,” the statement continued.
“This deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.”
France on Wednesday called on Jerusalem to pull its forces out of the zone separating Syria from the Israeli side of the Golan Heights, saying that “any military deployment in the separation zone between Israel and Syria is a violation of the disengagement agreement of 1974.
“France calls on Israel to withdraw from the zone and to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Russia, an ally of Bashar Assad that has granted him and his family asylum, also accused Israel of violating the 1974 agreement, while expressing concern about Israeli airstrikes.
Germany and Spain also urged Jerusalem to show restraint during the transition period.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry pushed back, saying on Thursday that “in light of violations of the disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria from May 1974, the entry of armed militants into the buffer zone in contravention of the agreement, and even attacks on UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Forces) positions in the area, Israeli action was required.”
The ministry echoed the PMO’s statement that the troop deployment is a temporary and limited defensive measure to prevent an Oct. 7-style attack.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar discussed the matter earlier this week with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, emphasizing that “Israel will continue to act to defend itself and ensure the security of its citizens as needed.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz in a phone call on Wednesday that Washington is “closely monitoring events in Syria, supports a peaceful and inclusive political transition, and will continue the mission to prevent ISIS from re-establishing a safe haven on Syrian territory.”
The Pentagon chief stressed the importance of “close consultation” between the two allies on events in Syria, according to the Pentagon readout of the call provided by Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
To keep out ‘armed personnel’
IDF soldiers deployed to the demilitarized zone on Sunday as rebel groups took control of Damascus, bringing down the regime of President Assad.
The IDF said the move, which followed a situational assessment, was taken to avoid a scenario of “armed personnel” entering the buffer zone established by the 1974 agreement that ended the Yom Kippur War.
The 155-mile-long buffer zone is in Syrian territory and United Nations UNDOF personnel have patrolled it since 1974. U.N. Security Council Resolution 350 adopted the May 31, 1974, Israeli-Syrian agreement signed by Israel and Syria. Resolution 350 established the Alpha Line on Israel’s side of the marked U.N. buffer zone and the Bravo Line on Syria’s side.
Troops were deployed “to ensure the safety of the communities of the Golan Heights and the citizens of Israel,” the army stressed. “We emphasize that the IDF is not interfering with the internal events in Syria. The IDF will continue to operate as long as necessary in order to preserve the buffer zone and defend Israel and its civilians.”
The Israeli Air Force has attacked most of Syria’s strategic weapons arsenal since the ouster of Assad, the IDF announced on Tuesday night, preventing them from falling into the hands of Islamic terrorists.
The military confirmed earlier reports that the Air Force conducted more than 350 strikes, with hundreds of hours of flight time logged over Syrian airspace. The targets included anti-aircraft batteries, Syrian Air Force airfields and dozens of weapons production sites in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Palmyra. Strategic weapons were neutralized, including Scud tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, surface-to-sea, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, drones, fighter jets, attack helicopters, radar systems, tanks and hangars.
The IDF has named the large-scale operation “Arrow of Bashan.”
On Monday night, Israeli Navy missile ships attacked two Syrian Navy facilities simultaneously: Al-Bayda Port and Latakia Port, where 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. During the operation, dozens of enemy sea-to-sea missiles with ranges of 80 to 190 kilometers (50 to 120 miles) and carrying heavy explosive payloads were destroyed.
In addition, the IDF Northern Command’s Fire Control Center conducted airstrikes against 130 enemy assets in Syria, including weapons depots, military structures, launchers and firing positions.
The hundreds of strikes marked the heaviest air campaign against Syria since the Yom Kippur War.
Jerusalem is fortifying the border zone and neutralizing Assad’s military arsenal out of concern for terrorist elements among the rebel groups in Syria attacking Israel.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which spearheaded the assault that led to Assad’s downfall, has historic ties to al-Qaeda. Syrian rebel leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani had a $10 million bounty placed on his head by the U.S. government for a series of terrorist attacks and kidnappings in the Middle Eastern country.
Hamas on Monday congratulated Syrian rebel forces for toppling the Assad regime after five decades of rule.
In a statement posted to Telegram, the Sunni terrorist organization stressed its “commitment to Syria’s unity, the integrity of its territories, and respect for the Syrian people’s will, independence and political choices.
“We also emphasize the importance of Syria continuing its historical and pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian people and their resistance to achieve the goals of their just cause, while solidifying Syria’s leadership role on the Arab and Islamic fronts, as well as regionally and internationally,” the statement continued.
Hamas concluded by condemning Israel, saying it “rejects any Zionist ambitions or schemes targeting brotherly Syria, its land and its people.”
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas led a mass invasion from Gaza of the northwestern Negev, murdering some 1,200 people, wounding thousands more and kidnapping 250. There are currently one hundred hostages being held in Gaza, including four who were abducted before Oct. 7. Sixty-two of the Oct. 7 captives are believed to be alive.
Joshua Marks
Source: https://www.jns.org/netanyahu-syria-buffer-zone-troops-temporary/
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