Israel fuelling Alarm in the Middle East?

Israel fuelling Alarm in the Middle East situation with air strikes and ground advances into Syrian territory after Assad’s overthrow.
Israeli Défense Minister Israel Katz said that he had ordered the military to establish a “sterile defence zone” in southern Syria and that Israel’s navy had destroyed Syria’s military fleet.
Even as Syria was rejoicing the overthrow of the Assad family heir Bashar Al Assad dictator’s 24-year iron reign over the country celebrates, it has also become the subject of a new ground incursion and a wave of airstrikes from its neighbour Israel that has drawn growing international condemnation and concern.
Explosions rocked Damascus overnight, smoke billowed from a research centre north of the capital and destroyed naval ships in the western port of Latakia — all while Israeli ground forces moved into Syrian territory.
Israeli Défense Minister Israel Katz said that he had ordered the military to establish a “sterile defence zone” in southern Syria, as Israeli forces seized control of the demilitarized and U.N.-patrolled buffer zone, established under a 1974 ceasefire agreement.
Israel claimed its airstrikes and actions on the ground were aimed at preventing Assad’s arsenal of rockets and chemical weapons falling into the hands of extremists who could threaten its borders or people. But its advance has raised alarm at a time when the international community is already nervous about further instability as Syria navigates its transition away from 53 years of Assad rule.
Arab nations condemned the incursion, accusing Israel of violating international law and exploiting the chaos in Syria.
The exact location of Israeli forces was unclear. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a U.K.-based monitoring group, said on social media that “Israeli tanks were seen penetrating the far southwestern countryside of #Damascus.”
IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said in a post on X that “the reports circulating in the media about the alleged advancement of Israeli tanks towards Damascus are false. IDF troops are stationed within the area of separation, to protect the State of Israel.” Just minutes earlier, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said IDF forces were inside the buffer zone “and at defensive points near the border in order to protect the Israeli border.”
Hours later, Katz said that together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he had instructed the IDF to establish a “sterile defence zone from weapons and terrorist threats” in southern Syria, “without a permanent Israeli presence.”
Katz added that “the IDF is now completing its establishment in the buffer zone and in controlled areas in order to protect the residents of the Golan Heights and the citizens of the State of Israel.” “It was unclear exactly what this would mean for the buffer zone.” (“Israel advances into Syrian territory after Assad’s overthrow … – MSN”)
While Israel frames its actions as a necessary response to the uncertain situation on its border, critics argued they were the latest example of the U.S. ally’s destabilizing actions amid its devastating assault on the Gaza Strip and fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Israel’s “attempts to occupy Syrian lands will lead the region to more violence and tensions,” calling the move a “flagrant violation of international law.” Saudi Arabia said the actions “confirm Israel’s continued violations of the principles of international law,” and called upon the international community to respect Syria’s “territorial integrity.” (“How ‘Israel’ Exploits the Political and Military Vacuum in Syria”) (“How ‘Israel’ Exploits the Political and Military Vacuum in Syria”) Iran also condemned the Israeli military’s movements, describing them as a violation of the United Nations Charter and calling for immediate action from the U.N. Security Council.
And U.S. NATO ally Türkiye said Israel was “once against displaying its occupying mentality,” condemning its actions while Syria strives for “peace and stability.”
‘Significant risks’
Israel is far from the only country acting in Syria.
Türkiye backs one of the rebel groups, while Russia still has forces in the country that were there to support Assad’s regime. The United States also ramped up its military activity in the region after Assad’s stunning fall, conducting more than 75 strikes against ISIS camps to prevent the terrorist group from exploiting the situation.
But Israel’s ground offensive carries “significant risks,” especially if they are going beyond the buffer zone as Netanyahu hinted, warned Michael A. Horowitz, a geopolitical and security analyst. “If it pushes further, or stays permanently in areas it currently controls, then this will fuel instability and embolden radical elements who could use religious rhetoric to justify fighting Israel,” Horowitz told NBC News via email.
The 155-square-mile buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights was created after the 1973 Arab Israeli war, the most recent of three wars fought between the two countries. Netanyahu said that the agreement that established the zone had “collapsed” after Syrian soldiers abandoned their positions amid the overthrow of Assad.
Meanwhile, Israel has conducted over 300 airstrikes on research centres, arms depots, and military infrastructure across Syria, including a naval base on the Mediterranean coast, according to SOHR.
“Katz said that the Israeli navy had destroyed Syria’s fleet in the Mediterranean on Monday night.” (“Israel strikes and advances into Syrian territory after Assad’s …”)

Photos from news agencies also showed sunken Syrian naval ships in the port city of Latakia, with smoke billowing from the wreckage after they were laid to waste by Israeli air strikes.
At least two explosions were heard around Barzeh, near Damascus, where the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre has an office, three witnesses in the neighbourhood told Reuters. News agency photos showed the site destroyed on Tuesday.
The building has been struck before and sanctioned for its links to chemical weapon production under Assad. The U.N. special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, called Israel’s airstrikes “a very troubling development.” We are continuing to see Israeli movements and bombardments in Syrian territory, this needs to stop,” he said Tuesday.
But Israel has maintained it is acting in self-defence. “The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters. “That’s why we attacked strategic weapons systems, like, for example, remaining chemical weapons, or long-range missiles and rockets, in order that they will not fall in the hands of extremists.”
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the globally designated terror group that led the lightning assault to topple Assad, has pledged not to use chemical weapons or allow them to fall into irresponsible hands, according to a statement released Saturday, adding that it would “cooperate with the international community on all matters related to monitoring weapons.”
While the long-term intentions and consequences of Israel’s actions remain unclear, analysts said it could at minimum jeopardize any hope of a new era of relations between the two counties.
““It’s certainly not a great way to start a relationship,” added Horowitz, while noting what he said were Israel’s legitimate security concerns.” (“Israel advances into Syrian territory after Assad’s overthrow … – MSN”) “But this also closes the door on any form of diplomacy between the new Syrian state and Israel, at least for a time.”

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