Israel has deployed troops inside Syrian territory “to guarantee the security of its communities” in the occupied Golan Heights.
The Israeli army acknowledges that its forces have advanced several kilometers into the demilitarised buffer zone in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, but claims that it has no intention to advance further.
Tel Aviv also said it conducted several airstrikes on ammunition and weapons depots across Syria – including those connected to chemical weapons – to destroy equipment it fears may fall into hostile hands.
Referring to the collapse of the Assad regime, PM Netanyahu said: “This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East. The Assad regime – a central link in Iran’s axis of evil – has fallen.”
This marks the first time since the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement was signed that Israeli forces have taken up positions inside the buffer zone between Israel and Syria.
Analysts say that Israel’s top priority is to “defend civilian communities living on the Golan Heights” in close vicinity to the border and to prevent rebels from threatening the Israeli border.
Israel’s second priority is to prevent “advanced weapons systems from falling into the hands of the rebels.”
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Syria formerly possessed the largest arsenal of chemical weapons in the world. While most of that arsenal was removed from Syrian territory, it is thought likely to still possess capabilities (and know-how).
Today, media reports indicated that Israeli warplanes struck sites inside Syria with one-ton bombs and bunker-busting munitions.
According to Israel’s Army Radio, the army is working on destroying “every potential military targets” of the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad, including tanks, warplanes, intelligence headquarters and advanced military equipment.
The Israeli army on Sunday carried out dozens of airstrikes across Syria targeting around 100 sites following the fall of the Assad regime.
According to Israeli media, the airstrikes targeted military bases, air defence stations and intelligence headquarters as well as long- and short-range missile depots, weapons production centres and unconventional weapon stockpiles.
Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967. It is a region of strategic importance and abundant water resources.
