Israel expands military operations in Syria under pretext of creating ‘sterile zone’

Israel has launched an extensive military campaign in Syria, conducting over 350 air strikes and seizing territory beyond the illegally occupied Golan Heights, in what Defence Minister Israel Katz describes as an effort to create a “sterile defensive area” along the border.

The occupation forces reported that their fighter jets have carried out hundreds of strikes across Syria over the past 48 hours, targeting what they claim are strategic weapons stockpiles in major cities including Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Palmyra. The offensive has included attacks on Syria’s naval bases, with Katz boasting about destroying Syria’s modest navy “with great success”.

The Israeli army told journalists yesterday that it had completed the main part of its aggressive military campaign against Syria since the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime, targeting the military capabilities of the Syrian state. The occupation regime claimed that it had destroyed between 70 and 80 per cent of these capabilities.

The military escalation marks Israel’s most significant incursion into Syrian territory since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. According to diplomatic sources, Israeli forces have moved “men and material” into the demilitarised buffer zone since 7 December, positioning troops and armoured vehicles near seven abandoned Syrian military posts.

The expansion has drawn sharp international criticism. Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks, stating that, “Israel is again displaying its occupier mentality.” The UN, through its spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, expressed firm opposition to any violation of Syria’s territorial integrity, emphasising that, “This is a turning point for Syria. It should not be used by its neighbours to encroach on the territory of Syria.”

UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen warned that Israel’s actions could undermine prospects for peaceful transition in the already fragile state. “We need to see a stop to the Israeli attacks,” insisted Pedersen. “It’s extremely important that we don’t see any action from any international actor that destroys the possibility for this transformation in Syria to take place.”

Critics have pointed out the apparent contradiction in Israel’s strategy of protecting a buffer zone by creating another buffer zone, particularly given that Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights since 1967 remains unrecognised by the international community. Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that, “The Golan Heights will be an inseparable part of the state of Israel forever.”

The US stressed its support for Israeli military operations despite growing opposition. There has been a significant shift in American public opinion, with an increasing number of voters expressing concern about US power being employed primarily to serve Israeli interests rather than America’s. This “America First” sentiment has gained particular traction with those who question why US diplomatic, military and financial resources are being committed extensively to support Israel’s regional ambitions.

This debate has intensified following former General Wesley Clark’s 2001 revelation that the US had planned to topple seven regimes in the region to secure Israeli hegemony, including Syria. The admission has fuelled criticism that US foreign policy in the Middle East has prioritised Israel’s strategic objectives over America’s national interests, leading to calls for a fundamental reassessment of the US-Israel relationship.

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