Israel increases military presence in Golan Heights – what now?

Israel increases military presence in Golan Heights – what now?

Israel's military has launched an impressive offensive into Syria's buffer zone in the Golan Heights. The Israeli army announced that it has captured strategic positions in this sensitive region to protect northern Israeli territory and its residents from potential threats. These measures came amid a dramatic power vacuum in Syria after longtime President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by Islamist forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Syrian soldiers have withdrawn from Kuneitra province, further destabilizing the situation, as noted Small newspaper reported.

Strategic reorientation and military presence

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the army to take control of the demilitarized buffer zone and adjacent strategic positions. “We will not allow any hostile force to position itself on our border,” Netanyahu emphasized. This comes in addition to a large-scale military operation that has seen Israeli soldiers deployed to several key areas within this buffer zone. Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi informed that Israel is fighting terrorism on various fronts and has recently sent troops to Syrian territory to guarantee the safety of Israeli citizens, according to the statement ZDF.

The developments are all the more explosive because the area is under UN surveillance, which was established after the 1974 ceasefire agreement. However, this agreement is being questioned by Israel, prompting the UN observation mission to point out possible security risks. An attack on UN troops was recently reported, which is further inflaming tensions in the region. Amid all these changes, it is clear that the geopolitical forces in the Middle East are faltering and new conflicts are looming.