Israel Boosts Troops in Golan as Syria Conflict Escalates

The Israeli military announced on Friday that it is bolstering its aerial and ground forces in the occupied Golan Heights in response to the significant progress made by Islamist-led rebel groups in Syria.

In a statement, the military emphasized that it is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared for various scenarios, both offensive and defensive. It also made clear that it will not tolerate any threats near the Israeli border.

After 13 years of civil war, Syrian insurgents are making substantial gains, initially capturing cities in the northern part of the country and, more recently, advancing into central Syria. These moves are part of a broader effort by rebel groups to challenge the forces of Russia and Iran-backed Syrian government troops, with battles intensifying in areas such as Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has conducted occasional strikes on locations in Syria that are considered strongholds of Hezbollah.

The insurgent advances are contributing to increased instability along Israel’s northern border, just two months after its military attempted an incursion into neighboring Lebanon. On Thursday, Israel’s defense minister and military chief of staff convened to discuss the developing situation.

Israeli media reports indicate that security officials are concerned that the rebels could continue their advance toward the Golan Heights, capturing valuable Syrian weapon stockpiles along the way. In an article published on Friday in Yedioth Aharonoth, veteran military correspondent Ron Ben-Yishai suggested that Israel might prioritize destroying these weapon depots to prevent them from falling into rebel hands.

Israel took control of the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Middle East war. Syria has repeatedly accused Israel of launching attacks from this territory, and Israel has conducted numerous strikes on Syrian targets over the years.