Barran Press
On Friday, December 6, 2024, Israeli broadcasting authorities reported that Tel Aviv is increasingly concerned about the potential collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime and is preparing for the implications, including the possibility of strategic weapons falling into the hands of Syrian opposition forces.
The official news agency stated that "Israel is closely monitoring the advances of opposition factions in Syria" and the retreat of regime forces, according to Anadolu Agency.
Israeli Channel 13 highlighted that discussions within the Israeli military and defense institutions took place overnight regarding the fall of Hama to opposition control and the ongoing situation. The military is reportedly preparing for the rapid disintegration of Assad's forces and the subsequent consequences for the situation in Syria.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for developments along the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heights. Channel 12 noted that Israel acknowledges the Syrian army may be on the brink of collapse and is adjusting its strategies accordingly. A special security discussion was held on Thursday to address this issue.
The reports indicate that Israel is surprised by the Syrian army's weakness, which has been losing city after city, with Israeli intelligence suggesting failures in both professional and leadership capacities within Assad's military.
Israeli security officials express concern over the potential for strategic weapons to reach opposition groups, prompting the military to prepare for this scenario without providing further details.
On Thursday evening, the Israeli army announced that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi held a session to assess the situation with staff members regarding developments in Syria. The Israeli military is monitoring events closely and is preparing for all offensive and defensive scenarios.
The military emphasized that it would not allow any threats near the Israel-Syria border and would act to thwart any threats to its citizens.
Since November 27, Syrian opposition factions have been engaged in clashes with regime forces. On November 29, they entered Aleppo and subsequently secured control of Idlib province before taking Hama on Thursday. On Friday morning, opposition forces also captured the cities of Rastan and Talbiseh in Homs Governorate, claiming their goal is to oust Bashar al-Assad.