The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it has been conducting “operational raids” on Mount Hermon in Syria, continuing its military campaign in the region amid growing international condemnation.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, airstrikes attributed to the Israeli military were reported around Damascus, targeting an ammunition warehouse used by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The Israeli military did not provide immediate comments regarding these airstrikes.
Israel stated that its military operations in Syria aim to “strengthen the defense of Israel’s citizens.” However, these actions have led to accusations from the United Nations and various member states that Israel is violating a long-standing cease-fire by deploying troops within and beyond a designated buffer zone.
The raids occurred shortly after Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, met with members of the U.N. peacekeeping mission stationed along the Syrian-Israeli border. The U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was established in 1974 to maintain a cease-fire following the 1973 war and to supervise the buffer zone created by that agreement.
Following the recent overthrow of the Assad regime by rebel forces, Israeli ground troops advanced into the demilitarized zone, marking their first overt entry into Syria in fifty years. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israel’s actions as violations of the 1974 agreement.
Sa’ar claimed that “extremist armed groups” had attacked peacekeepers in the buffer zone, which he stated violated the cease-fire. UNDOF has not yet responded to these allegations.
The Israeli military's actions further complicate an already intricate situation in Syria, as the new leadership seeks to rebuild a nation ravaged by over a decade of civil war and to gain international recognition.
Ahmed al-Shara, the rebel commander who led the coalition that ousted Assad and has assumed interim leadership, criticized the Israeli military's actions in a recent interview. He affirmed Syria's commitment to the 1974 cease-fire agreement and urged the international community to ensure Israel's compliance.
Despite this, Israel has indicated its intention to maintain a military presence in Syria as long as necessary. During a December visit to Mount Hermon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli troops would remain until a new arrangement ensuring Israel’s security is established.
Defense Minister Israel Katz, who accompanied Netanyahu, emphasized that Israel’s military presence serves as a deterrent against rebels in Damascus, whom he described as extreme Islamist movements.
Al-Shara’s faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously affiliated with Al Qaeda, has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the U.N. However, some countries are considering lifting this designation, contingent upon a democratic transition in Syria and respect for minority groups by rebel leaders.
In recent weeks, al-Shara has sought to position himself as a diplomatic leader focused on reconstruction, engaging with officials from the U.S. and various European and Middle Eastern nations.
There are indications that the new Syrian government may be open to establishing relations with Israel. The newly appointed governor of Damascus, Maher Marwan, recently called on the U.S. to leverage its influence over Israel to promote diplomatic relations.
Currently, however, Israel appears to prioritize military operations. Reports indicate that the Israeli military has conducted extensive airstrikes in Syria, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documenting over 370 Israeli attacks last year, the majority occurring in recent weeks.