Israel Calls for Complete Demilitarization of Southern Syria

In an alarming development, Israeli forces are set to maintain a presence in the Golan Heights as conflict looms over Syria’s new leadership.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly demanded the complete demilitarization of southern Syria, particularly in the provinces of Quneitra, Deraa, and Suweida. In a recent speech addressed to military cadets, Netanyahu expressed Israel's vehement opposition to the presence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—the Islamist faction instrumental in the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad—and any new Syrian military forces entering the zone south of Damascus.

"We demand the complete demilitarisation of southern Syria from the forces of the new regime," Netanyahu declared, highlighting that Israel will not tolerate threats to the Druze community residing in southern Syria. Significantly, he announced that Israeli troops would continue their operations in the Syrian territory they took control of after Assad's downfall last December, signaling a strategic pivot. Previously, these incursions were described as temporary in nature, aimed at safeguarding Israelis from extremist groups that could exploit the power void in the Golan Heights.

Netanyahu's latest comments underscore his belief that the new Syrian leadership—associated with jihadism—poses a similar threat to Israeli security. The Golan Heights, seized by Israel during the 1967 Middle East War and later annexed (an act not recognized internationally except by the US in 2019), remains a point of contention.

As Netanyahu’s proclamations reverberated through the region, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa sought to ease fears by assuring Israel that he had no intention of escalating conflicts and aimed to honor the longstanding disengagement agreement forged after the 1973 war. However, he also asserted a call for Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone, striving to re-establish Syria's sovereignty across its fragmented territory.

Netanyahu's mistrust of these reassurances reflects a broader hesitation to accept the transitional government's claims. The international community, including Israel, waits with bated breath to determine whether Sharaa's moderate stances will translate into tangible actions.

From the perspective of Syria’s new leadership, regaining independence from foreign influences, seen throughout the prolonged civil war, is critical to foster a hopeful future for the nation. While Iran and Russia's influence has waned, the United States, under President Trump's administration, might further minimize its role in Syria, impacting Kurdish-led forces. However, Turkey, which backed HTS in its swift campaign against Assad, presents a wildcard in Syria's evolving geopolitical landscape.

Israel's military engagement in Syrian territory and its ongoing strikes against what remains of Assad's forces may contradict Sharaa's narrative of a unified and sovereign Syria, thus posing a challenge to the country's emergent leadership. Netanyahu's decree limiting Syrian military operations is likely to be a significant hurdle for the new Damascus regime, which aims to maintain a facade of non-confrontation as it navigates these complex dynamics.

Satellite images revealing Israeli military construction further illustrate ongoing tensions, as Israel remains poised to maintain its border presence through winter, seizing on Syria's chaos to secure its strategic interests in the region.