• 7 military sites have been installed by Israel to replace the old Syrian regimes sites are in place with upgrades to survive the harsh weather conditions in the Golan Heights.
• Israeli expansionism in unknown terrain with an unclear neighbour may create problems for Israel in the future, but where and when?
New satellite images revealed by Haaretz has showed that Israel has constructed 7 military sites along the Syrian border.
The images show that the IDF has constructed and establishedat least seven new outposts, from Syrian Mount Hermon in the northern part of the demilitarized zone to Tel Kudna in the southern section, near the Israel-Syria-Jordan border triangle.
The demilitarized zone was given its title and acceptance after the Yom Kippur war in 1973 which saw the border area being completely demilitarized with no military force allowed to be present.
Israel took the opportunity to establish a military presence in the area as early as November of last year and after the collapse of Bashar Al Assad’s regime, Israel took the opportunity to establish military infrastructure further and at a far rapid pace in the demilitarised zone, violating the peace treaty of 1973.
In it’s defence Israel has said it was working to establish a ‘defensive line’ to protect Israeli communities in the area after concerns the fighting in Syria at the time would spill over into Israeli occupied territory, something that did not happen.
Haaretz had reported that the troops that initially began the incursion into Syrian territory in the demilitarized zone, went through harsh conditions, conditions that were so harsh that it made it uninhabitable for the Israeli soldiers.
In December, the IDF began reorganizing the demilitarized zone to allow its forces to stay in the areas deployed without any end date even with its continuous violation of international law.
The IDF established command centres, clinics, showers, and restrooms at the outposts.
The installed infrastructure and provided equipment aredesigned to withstand the Golan Heights’ harsh weather conditions.
Why isn’t the new Syrian government doing anything, are they in the pockets in the west?
The new Syrian government led by Ahmad Sharaa, a former rebel leader who has now taken the title of presidency has criticised Israel for incursions into Syrian territory but has not resorted to fighting or resisting Israeli occupation even when Israel has already seized hundreds of square kilometres of Syrian land.
The truth of the matter, it was reported this week that the new government was still after elements of the old regime, this week targeting judges of the old regime.
It was also reported that the new Syrian government is willing to allow Russians to maintain a presence in Syria even with its partial withdrawment.
The new Syrian government has on the other hand said they want the complete withdrawment of American troops in the Kurdish run regions of the northeast of Syria, while also allowing Palestinian factions to integrate into the new Syrian army.
It is true that they have not taken a harsh or armed stance against Israel even with Israel’s assassination of a HTS mayor in Syrian mainland territory but it’s likely the diplomatic aims and efforts to normalise relations and remove sanctions from the war torn country could be hindered if it done so at the moment.
Knowing colonial powers have used the Alawite community in the past to rule over Syria and the revolution in Egypt being overrun by elements of the old regime, the new Syrian government seems to be focusing on tackling the closer imminent threats to its rule and stability first by tackling the remaining elements of the old regime.
The new regime also has not yet carried out a full offensive against Kurdish rebels in the north east who have chosen not to capitulate to the new government. It’s likely the new government is awaiting a moment of withdrawal of American troops while also trying to carry out it’s first ambitions which is deems more dire, such as securing stability in a fragile Syria.
It must also be remembered that President Ahmad Sharaa of Syria was at one point held in a notorious American prison for five years well before his return to Syria.
