Israel takes control of Golan buffer zone after Assad flees country

Israel has taken control of a strategic buffer zone in the Golan Heights, previously established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria, following a dramatic advance by Syrian opposition forces that led to the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the move on Sunday, stating that Israel could not allow "hostile forces" to establish themselves on its border after Syrian soldiers abandoned their positions.

“We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” Netanyahu declared, framing the situation as a necessary response to the breakdown of the decades-old ceasefire arrangement.

The Israeli military subsequently issued an urgent warning to Syrians living near the Golan Heights, including in the villages of Ofaniya, Quneitra, al-Hamidiyah, Samdaniya al-Gharbiyya, and al-Qahtaniyah.

The military assured civilians that it did not intend to harm them but was forced to act due to the ongoing fighting in the region. Colonel Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesperson, stated that the situation was being closely monitored, and warned the locals to remain at home.

Israeli forces also declared agricultural areas in the Golan Heights as closed military zones, and some schools were moved to online classes amid the growing unrest.

The region has been a focal point of Israeli-Syrian tensions ever since Israel captured part of the Golan Heights during the 1967 war and subsequently annexed it.

The international community, except for the United States, considers the territory to be illegally occupied.

Meanwhile, on the ground in Syria, opposition forces made significant gains, with celebratory gunfire erupting across Damascus on Sunday as they reached the capital, marking the end of Assad’s 50-year rule. The opposition's advance raised questions about Syria’s future stability and the wider implications for the region.

Israel's Strategic Gains

Netanyahu hailed the collapse of the Assad regime as an "historic day" for Israel, suggesting that the fall of Assad benefitted Israeli interests.

He pointed to recent Israeli military actions against Assad's supporters, including Hezbollah and Iranian forces, in Lebanon as evidence of Israel’s broader regional agenda.

Israeli media reported that Israeli air forces had launched strikes on weapon depots in southern Syria and the Damascus area, fearing that they might fall into the hands of opposition groups.

An Israeli security official told public broadcaster KAN that the attacks were aimed at preventing the capture of ammunition depots by armed factions.

“We attacked ammunition depots in southern Syria and in the Damascus airport area to prevent them from falling into the hands of armed groups and local factions,” the official said. The strikes reportedly targeted missile stockpiles and other military infrastructure in the region.

Israel has repeatedly targeted weapon shipments and military installations in Syria throughout the civil war, citing concerns over the potential transfer of advanced weaponry to hostile groups, including Iran-backed militias and Hezbollah.

The situation in Syria continues to evolve rapidly, and with Israel’s military expanding its footprint in the Golan Heights, the broader geopolitical ramifications for the region remain uncertain.