IDF Increases Presence in Golan Heights Amid Syrian Conflict Escalation

In response to the rapidly changing situation in Syria, the Israeli military has taken precautionary measures by deploying additional troops to the buffer zone between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights. This move follows the swift collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the territorial gains made by rebel factions. While Israel has ramped up its military presence, it has emphasized that its actions are designed to secure its borders and protect its citizens, not to intervene in Syria's internal conflict.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they have positioned troops in the buffer zone as part of a broader strategy to ensure the safety of communities in the Golan Heights. The move marks the first time since the 1974 Disengagement Agreement that Israeli forces have taken up permanent positions inside the buffer zone, although the military emphasized that this is a temporary measure, depending on developments in Syria.

In coordination with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), Israel has also imposed military restrictions in certain areas of the Golan Heights, including agricultural zones near Merom Golan and Buq’ata, which are closed to civilians for the time being. Furthermore, schools in Druze communities in the northern Golan Heights have switched to online learning for safety precautions.

The IDF has responded to incidents along the border, including artillery shelling to repel gunmen attacking UN positions, and has increased surveillance to monitor any further threats from Syria. Israel has also reportedly conducted airstrikes targeting weapons sites in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of rebel groups, including Hezbollah.

Israeli officials, including Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, have called for further action to prevent the spread of extremist forces such as al-Qaeda and ISIS near Israel’s borders, urging for renewed control of the Golan Heights and strategic areas to fortify Israel’s defensive perimeter.

Opposition leaders, such as Yair Lapid, have stressed the importance of forming a regional coalition with countries like Saudi Arabia and those involved in the Abraham Accords, to address the regional instability and Iranian influence in Syria.