Israel minister: Syria is a ‘national security risk’

Tel Aviv may take steps against the Syrian regime if Damascus does not halt the transfer of Iranian weapons to Hezbollah, Israeli minister warns.

Head of the New Hope Party, Gideon Sa’ar, said Syria has continued to be used as a route for the transport of Iranian arms, which constitute a direct threat to Israel’s security. He emphasised the need for Tel Aviv to clarify its stance to President Bashar Al-Assad, warning that his regime is at risk if he continues to permit aggression against Israel.

Sa’ar noted that, during Syria’s civil war, Israel missed an opportunity to dismantle Assad’s regime, while Iran and Hezbollah used the time to expand their influence in the region.

These remarks come amid ongoing border tensions, with Israeli officials alleging that Hezbollah is strengthening its military presence in Syria. Israeli officials regard such activities as a national security threat, stressing that no front should be allowed to open against Israel from Syrian territory.

As the conflict intensifies in southern Lebanon, Assad’s regime faces dual challenges: domestic instability from the economic crisis and continued civil war, and external pressures from Israel. This situation has raised international concerns about the stability of the wider region.

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