Amidst escalating tensions and a shift in power within Syria, Israel has affirmed its commitment to maintaining a secure border. Following a series of airstrikes and the establishment of a buffer zone within Syrian territory, Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, emphasized to Fox News Digital that Israel's primary concern is border stability and not internal Syrian politics.
Danon underscored that while Israel hopes for continued peace along the border, the nation's focus remains on its own security concerns. This comes in the wake of Israel's military actions targeting military and chemical weapons facilities in Syria, driven by concerns about these assets falling into the wrong hands following the recent government overthrow.
The power vacuum created by the change in leadership has raised questions about which factions will gain control in Syria. This uncertainty has prompted Israel to deploy troops into the Golan Heights buffer zone for the first time since its establishment after the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Image: Syrian opposition members removing a Syrian government flag from a building in Salamiyah. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Image: Rebels in Northwest Syria with captured regime military vehicles. (Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via AP)
Israel's actions have drawn criticism from neighboring countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, who accuse Israel of taking advantage of the unstable situation. Danon expressed hope that the future Syrian government would not be influenced by Iran, while acknowledging the involvement of concerning actors in the overthrow of the previous regime.
He pointed to Iran's significant investment in Syria and predicted a shift in Iranian influence. While viewing this as a positive development, he also cautioned about the involvement of groups like al Qaeda in the uprising. The dominant faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which orchestrated the fall of Damascus, has links to al Qaeda, raising concerns despite its recent attempts to rebrand itself.
Israel has also secured Mount Hermon, a strategic high point on the border, which had reportedly been used by Iran for drone operations. Danon described this move as a temporary defensive measure. He reiterated Israel's desire for a positive future for Syria, emphasizing that their primary objective is preventing terrorist activity along the border. While acknowledging the Assad family's history of human rights abuses, Danon expressed hope for improved conditions for the Syrian people.
Image: Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. (Getty Images)
