Photo: Depositphotos
After the actual collapse of the “Shiite axis” that Iran had been building for decades, the Middle East has entered a phase of new geopolitical turbulence. At the centre of these changes is Syria, where the weakening of Tehran’s influence and the weakening of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have created a vacuum that new players are trying to fill: Turkey, Hamas and Israel itself. This was written by the Israeli publication Maariv, as well as Cursorinfo.
Syria as a new terrorist hub
With the massive release of prisoners, including Palestinian militants and jihadists, Syria is rapidly turning into a convenient platform for terrorist activity. While the Assad regime used to tightly control groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, these forces have now been given almost complete freedom of action. Hamas is already actively gaining a foothold in southern Syria and Lebanon, which is a matter of serious concern to Israel.
Israel responds with air strikes and special operations
In response, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) conducted a series of targeted operations against terrorist cells in Syria. In particular, in the Tassil area, units of the 474th Brigade engaged armed groups – several militants were eliminated with the support of the Israeli Air Force.
Israeli planes also attacked air bases in Palmyra and T-4 to prevent the Syrian Air Force from becoming more active. Tel Aviv insists on two key conditions: the removal of any armed groups within 80 km of the border and full control over Syrian airspace without threats from air defence or third-country aircraft.
Turkey is on the move
While Iran and Russia are gradually losing influence, Turkey is becoming more active in the region. Ankara is trying to gain control over the newly created Syrian structures, arming the rebuilt army and effectively subordinating it to itself. Turkish troops are also pushing Kurdish formations out of northern Syria, where they are seeking autonomy similar to Iraqi Kurdistan.
Spring is a time for smuggling and new risks
With the warming weather, smuggling routes between Syria, Lebanon and Jordan have intensified in the Hermon. The IDF has stepped up patrols in the Golan Heights, the Valley and Mount Dov. In these areas, the risk of clashes with armed smugglers or militants is growing.
New threats – new responses
In response to the intensification of terrorist activities, Shabak has created a separate unit to track new players in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Recently, Israeli aviation killed one of Hizbullah’s key militants, Hassan Ali Mahmoud Badir, thus preventing him from preparing a large-scale attack on Israeli targets.
Conclusion.
The Middle East is entering a phase of profound reorientation, with old alliances weakening and terrorist organisations trying to seize the moment. Israel remains determined to prevent the formation of new terrorist infrastructure near its borders, even at the cost of expanding its military operations outside the country.
