Israel Bolsters Forces Along Syrian Frontier as Rebels Advance

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Dec 06, 2024

Above: The Israeli army reinforces its air and ground forces in the Golan Heights in response to the ongoing situation in Syria on Dec. 6, 2024. Image copyright: Israel Defense Forces/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Imagesstory last updated Dec 07

The Facts

The Israeli military said on Friday that it was bolstering its forces along the border with Syria due to the rapid advance of rebel forces in the last week, adding that it is "prepared for any scenario." Defense Minister Israel Katz and military chief Herzi Halevi also held another assessment of the recent events in Syria.
The move comes after rebel forces led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized the city of Hama on Thursday after days of heavy fighting. Rebel forces are now pushing on the city of Homs, which connects the capital Damascus to Syria's coastal regions.

The Spin

Narrative A

Israel should do more to support the rebels in Syria, as they are fighting a common enemy. There are still secular and moderate factions within the opposition, and there will be many voices in a free Syria who will be open to normalizing relations with Israel. Israel should not sit on its hands and wait for events to unfold. Rather, it should actively support the Syrian revolution.

Timesofisrael

Narrative B

Israel's interest in Syria is to see the Assad regime weakened but not defeated. Now that it is becoming increasingly likely that the Islamist rebels will overthrow the government and take power, Israel must begin to worry. Chaos in the region, especially when it's induced by Islamic radicals, has never been good for Israel, and it must bolster its defenses in the Golan Heights.

Jerusalem Post

Pro-Iran narrative

What is happening in Syria is a Western and Israeli-backed plot to weaken Iran and the axis of resistance. Though the Western media loves to fawn over the "Syrian rebels," in reality, Syria is facing a terrorist onslaught made up of jihadists and foreign fighters from across the world.