Israel Expands Buffer Zone and Launches Hundreds of Airstrikes on Syria

In the aftermath of Assad's fall, Israel has undertaken an extensive military campaign in Syria, conducting more than 400 airstrikes on critical military infrastructure and deploying troops into the UN-designated buffer zone near the Golan Heights. The operations, which include strikes on naval and air defense assets, have significantly degraded Syria's strategic military capacity and left people questioning Israel’s ultimate objectives.

Wilson Center Fellow Guy Laron talks about what Israel has gained in the few days since Assad fled the country. He covers how Israel has succeeded in securing its Northern border, controlling territory beyond the buffer zone, and increasing its value as an ally for regional powers.

Transcript

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

So what happened in Syria would affect the larger dynamics in the region in the sense that, Iran would not be able to supply Hezbollah in an overland route through Iraq and Syria, as did until this year. And, by destroying the military capabilities of Syria and, you know, in the last three months, destroying the command structure of Hezbollah, it seemed that Israel was able to achieve a pacification of its northern border for many years to come.

Goal number two is biting off some Syrian territory. Israel presents it as a precaution. But, you might argue that, the Israeli units are already in a commanding position overlooking Syria. And right now the territory the Israeli army went into is is actually on, lower ground. So, it doesn't improve the security situation of Israel, but it does allow it to take more territory out of Syrian heights.

A year ago, we thought that the European Union and Saudi Arabia and Israel would open a trade corridor from India to Europe. And after the 7th October attack, that seems like, you know, a far fetched idea, that Israel was too weak to embroiled in its wars with Iran's proxies around it. But now I think the table has been cleared. And if Saudi Arabia is thinking once again, which countries in the region it wants to be allied with, then the idea of a normalization process with Israel, I think it looks enticing.

Again, to take away lessons from what happened is one, you know, once again, Israel has shown how military superior it is. And it became also, a more valuable ally for regional powers.