Report: Increasing Israeli Movements Reshape the Security Landscape in Southern Syria

An Israeli media report indicated that the activity of the Israeli army inside Syria has expanded during the current year, as part of efforts to strengthen influence east of the Golan Heights and monitor the rapid developments in southern Syria.

According to what was published by Israel Hayom, Israeli movements have gone beyond limited security operations to take on a broader character aimed at influencing the balance of power in the region. The report explains that the Israeli army has reinforced its presence at a number of military points stretching from Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk Valley, in a deployment described as having become a fixed part of its field activity.

The newspaper notes that Israeli forces carried out multiple operations this year against armed groups it said were affiliated with organizations such as ISIS and Hamas, in addition to elements linked to Iran, pointing out that these missions come within broader efforts to ensure stability along the northern border.

The report also addressed the recent clash in the town of Beit Jinn in rural Damascus, which resulted in six Israeli soldiers being injured. It considered the area one of the sensitive points east of the Golan due to its geographical nature and complex demographic composition.

The report sees Syria as undergoing a phase of “unstable field transformations” following the weakening of military institutions and the widespread proliferation of weapons, making the impact of these changes felt around the Golan. It likens the current situation to a continuous flow of developments that Israel is seeking to contain before they impose a new reality on its borders.

The report adds that Israeli movement is not limited to the military aspect, but extends to other fields, including providing humanitarian aid in certain areas, in an attempt to strengthen local communication channels at a time when regional actors such as Turkey are increasing their activities.

The newspaper links the current strategy to older security approaches based on proactive measures and “active defense” operations, considering them still the foundation of Israel’s policy in monitoring the situation inside Syria and managing potential future risks.