On December 8, 2024, a significant development in the Middle East occurred as Israel announced that it had temporarily seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that this decisive action came in response to what he described as the collapse of the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria, particularly due to the recent seizure of Damascus by rebel forces. This declaration follows the withdrawal of Syrian troops from positions in Quneitra province, a region that includes parts of the aforementioned buffer zone.
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), responding to what they perceived as a threat, were given orders by Netanyahu to enter the buffer zone along with nearby commanding positions from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” emphasized the Prime Minister, reflecting Israel’s longstanding policy of ensuring national security along its borders. Reports from a UK-based war monitoring group indicated that the Syrian armed forces had vacated their positions just days prior, prompting an urgent response from Israel.
In a move to maintain order and security amidst the escalating tensions, the IDF instructed residents from five Syrian villages within the zone to remain indoors until further notice. The Golan Heights, a strategically significant rocky plateau approximately 60 kilometers southwest of Syria’s capital, Damascus, has a contentious history. Seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, the region was unilaterally annexed by Israel in 1981, though this annexation remains largely unrecognized by the international community, with the exception of a controversial US acknowledgment in 2019.
The catalyst for Israel’s military mobilization appears to be the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which has been in power since 1971. Reports indicate that forces aligned with the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered the capital, Damascus, on the morning of December 8, proclaiming Syria to be “free” amidst celebrations broadcast on state television. Netanyahu characterized this moment as a “historic day in the Middle East,” acknowledging both the prospects and potential threats that this regime change may bring.
In light of these developments, Netanyahu articulated Israel’s willingness to engage with moderate forces that emerge from Syria’s chaos. However, he stressed that Israel’s interests must be secured at all costs. He reinforced that the IDF’s actions represent a “temporary defensive position until a suitable arrangement is found,” while expressing a desire to foster peaceful relations with new authorities in Syria. The ongoing instability, particularly concerning Assad’s purported stash of chemical weapons, has significantly raised Israel’s alarm, prompting swift military action.
The Israeli government is acutely aware of the implications these regional shifts could have on stability in Golan Heights, an area where approximately 20,000 Druze Syrians coexist with Israeli settlers. Following more than a year of upheaval in Syria, the rapid pace of developments has sparked concern in Israel about the future trajectory of its northern neighbor. As the IDF continues to deploy reinforcements, the directive to residents of several villages to remain indoors is seen as a provocative signal, one that could escalate tensions further.
Moving forward, Israel faces a complex scenario as it evaluates what the fall of Assad means for its security and geopolitical interests, weighing the options of potential allies and threats. As history has shown, the changing dynamics in the Middle East require constant recalibration of strategies, and Israel will undoubtedly continue to navigate these challenging waters with vigilance as the situation unfolds.
