Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed paratroopers and armored vehicles into Syrian territory on Sunday to conduct defensive operations in the Golan Heights.
The IDF stated the deployment aimed to proactively protect the Golan Heights amidst the instability in Syria. This action follows recent strikes by both the U.S. and Israel on Syrian targets.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced early Monday that Israel had also targeted suspected Syrian chemical weapons facilities. This action is intended to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of Islamist rebel groups now controlling Syria.
“Our sole objective is the security of Israel and its citizens,” Saar explained. “Therefore, we struck strategic weapons systems, including chemical weapons and long-range missiles, to prevent them from reaching extremist groups.”
While both the U.S. and Israel have welcomed Assad’s downfall, concerns remain about the future leadership of Syria, particularly the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a terrorist organization linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a Sunday statement, celebrated Assad’s ouster and announced the troop deployment as a response to potential threats, citing the collapse of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement with Syria.
“The Syrian army abandoned its positions. We instructed the Israeli army to secure these positions to prevent hostile forces from establishing themselves near our border. This is a temporary defensive measure until a suitable solution is found,” Netanyahu said, adding a peace offering to Syrian Muslims wishing to coexist peacefully with Israel.
President Biden echoed Netanyahu’s cautious optimism, stating that Assad’s fall is a moment of both opportunity and uncertainty for Syria.
“At long last, the Assad regime has fallen. The fall of this regime is a fundamental act of justice. It is a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their country. It is also a moment of risk and uncertainty,” Biden said, highlighting new opportunities for the Syrian people and the region.
Assad fled with his family to Moscow shortly before the fall of his regime and has been granted asylum there.