Take advantage of the window of opportunity: In the days before the change of government in the US and the entry of Joe Biden As president, Israel is stepping up pressure on Iran and Hezbollah in Syria. After three attacks in the last two weeks in Syria, which have been attributed to Israel, it can be assumed that such attacks will continue in the near future.
Israel recognizes a combination of appropriate conditions and legitimacy to act and increase pressure at this time, for several reasons, including good operational conditions and flexibility of action that Israel enjoys from the United States. The increase in attacks in recent times is not only due to the fact that Israel To this must be added the fact that the operational conditions are appropriate, the weather is favorable, and an operational opportunity has been created – in which the other side, especially the forces operating under Iran and Hezbollah in Syria, is limited in its response capability.
Syria’s air defense systems are activated against an attack attributed to Israel (Photo: Reuters)
It should also be noted that in parallel with the attack on weapons and the delivery of quality weapons in Syria, Almost every attack attributed to Israel also involves action on the Golan Heights front against Hezbollah’s interests. As part of the terrorist organization in the border area, known as the “Golan Heights Case,” Syrian army facilities along the border were used in an attempt to gather intelligence and establish an infrastructure for carrying out attacks against Israel.
It should be emphasized that in parallel with the attacks attributed to Israel in the last two weeks, and the assessment that this trend will continue in the near future, Israel is also continuing its efforts to convey messages to Syrian residents, including through airstrikes. One of the leaflets addressed to Syrian army soldiers read: “Hezbollah wants to turn Syria into another war zone against the State of Israel at your expense. Hezbollah destroyed Lebanon and southern Lebanon, and today it is destroying Syria. Hezbollah and the southern headquarters will do anything to seduce you. But alas, The money you get from them is not worth the value of your life and that of your family. ”
In Israel, as mentioned, the coming period – in which Hezbollah and Iran are weak in the region – is seen as an opportunity to increase the pressure in an attempt to halt their establishment in Syria. To this must be added the desire to hit military assets and advanced weapons, in order to curb a trend of intensification and armament of the Iranian and Hezbollah militias. The weapons include advanced and accurate missiles and quality anti-aircraft systems.
It should also be noted that in the near future, the IDF will also maintain high alert in the south of the country in the face of possible threats from the Houthis in Yemen towards the city of Eilat and other areas in the area.. Protective measures, including the Patriot batteries and other air defense-related measures, will remain deployed in the southern city, even though no specific intelligence alert is known at this time.