Recap:
Israel demanded the complete demilitarization of southern Syria, citing security concerns over the new Syrian government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian military targets just hours after its interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa demanded an Israeli withdrawal.
The Context:
· Syria invaded Israel during its War of Independence and later fought against Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, during which Israel captured the Golan Heights - a crucial buffer between the two countries. Syria attempted to reclaim the Golan in 1973 but failed, leading to a ceasefire and a United Nations (UN) monitored buffer zone. Over the years, Syria supported anti-Israel groups like Hezbollah and allowed Iran to establish a presence near Israel’s border. Despite occasional indirect peace talks, no formal diplomatic ties were ever established. Since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Israel has conducted airstrikes to prevent Iranian arms transfers to Hezbollah while largely avoiding direct involvement in Syria’s internal conflict.
· Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, HTS seized control of the country and attempted to present itself as a stabilizing force that would unite Syria’s militias and set Syria on a new path forward. While there is cautious optimism that the fall of the Assad regime could mark the beginning of Syria’s recovery, HTS remains an unpredictable force with the potential to evolve into a far greater destabilizing threat to Israel. HTS has deep roots in extreme Islamism, originating as a branch of Al-Qaeda. Immediately after the HTS conquest of Syria, Israel took control of the UN Buffer Zone in Syria and has refused to allow Syrian forces south of Damascus.
· Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that any Syrian military presence in Southern Syria areas would be "met with fire." Syria’s new government said Israel is violating Syria’s sovereignty and called on the international community to pressure Israel “to stop the aggression.”
· This week, Israel reportedly offered entry permits to Syria’s Druze community, allowing them to work in Israel at wages significantly higher than those available in Syria. With a Druze population of nearly 150,000 deeply integrated into Israeli society, Israel has consistently reaffirmed that it "will not tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria."
Conversation Points:
· Is Israel justified in violating Syria’s sovereignty?
· What’s in it for Israel in courting the Syrian Druze community?
· What would happen in Syria if HTS reverted to its roots in Islamic fundamentalism?
Notes:
· "Israeli PM Demands Complete Demilitarization of Southern Syria," BBC, February 25, 2025.
· "Israel Strikes Syrian Military Targets Following Netanyahu’s Speech," New York Times, February 25, 2025.
· "Jordan Condemns Israeli Airstrikes in Syria," Times of Israel, February 26, 2025.
· "Turkey’s Role in HTS Takeover: What’s Next?" Jerusalem Post, February 26, 2025.
· "Israel Conducting Strikes in Southern Syria," ABC News, February 25, 2025.
· "Katz Confirms Israeli Strikes in Southern Syria: 'We Will Not Allow It to Become Southern Lebanon,'" Times of Israel, February 25, 2025.
· "Days After Assad’s Fall, Israeli Reporter Explores Iran’s 'Nerve Center' in Damascus," Times of Israel, February 26, 2025.
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