Unveiling the Conflict: Israeli Gains Amid Syria’s Harsh New Regime

Israel’s latest military incursion into southern Syria, known as the “Green-White” operation, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions in the region. This operation has advanced nearly 38 kilometers into Syrian territory, coming alarmingly close—within about 10 kilometers—of Damascus. This represents Israel’s most profound military penetration since the conflicts of the 1970s, contributing to a systematic campaign that has intensified following the decline of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Recent reports from Israeli and regional media indicate that Israeli forces have targeted military installations in key areas, including Homs, Latakia, and near Palmyra. They have also established fortified positions, constructed roads, and built bases within the UN-designated demilitarized buffer zone on the Golan Heights.

Satellite images analyzed by networks such as Al Jazeera and BBC reveal rapid construction of military bases in this buffer zone since December, intensifying fears in Damascus and beyond that Israel is taking steps toward permanent control over vital strategic heights and communication routes.

The escalation has been marked by a series of aggressive actions, including:

• In late August, Israeli drone strikes in the Damascus countryside resulted in the deaths of six Syrian soldiers, following an earlier ground incursion.
• The day after, Israeli forces conducted a landing operation at a former army site in Kiswa, southwest of Damascus, deploying troops and search equipment for several hours.
• On September 8, multiple airstrikes targeted locations in Homs, Latakia, and Palmyra. Reports of explosions in Damascus and Latakia continued, with claims that newly delivered Turkish military equipment was destroyed in these strikes.

These military operations occur amidst a backdrop of strained diplomatic relations. Ongoing “security talks” between Damascus and Tel Aviv aim to revitalize elements of the 1974 disengagement agreement. However, Israeli officials suggest a broader agenda focused on establishing a sustained security presence in southern Syria.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani), appointed following the collapse of the Assad government in December 2024, frames these negotiations as efforts to restore borders to their pre-2024 state and to curb Israeli military actions. In contrast, Israeli statements increasingly outline a framework that suggests long-term occupation.

Supporters of Israel characterize these military strikes and outposts as necessary defensive measures. However, many observers—including diplomats, regional analysts, and independent monitors—perceive these actions as part of a persistent campaign of territorial consolidation. This blurring of the lines between temporary security measures and de facto annexation raises serious concerns.

Concurrently, Syria has been engulfed in severe internal violence since the fall of al-Assad. Monitoring groups and human rights organizations have reported widespread extrajudicial killings, with the mass bloodshed in Suwayda serving as a prominent example. Significant, systematic attacks have been directed against Alawite communities along the coast and in Homs and Hama. Survivors recount harrowing tales of entire families being executed, homes set ablaze, and villages targeted in sectarian violence.

Organizations such as Amnesty International and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have documented executions occurring in hospitals, public spaces, and residences. Independent investigations have amassed extensive evidence of mass killings, highlighting a grim reality for civilians caught between external aggression and internal strife.

Numerous credible reports detail systematic killings of Alawite civilians in Homs and Hama, where militias aligned with the new regime have committed atrocities. These actions highlight that condemning Israeli aggression should not equate to overlooking the brutalities perpetrated by Syria’s current authorities.

In essence, Syrian civilians find themselves in a dire predicament. They face:

• Intensifying Israeli military actions that threaten Syrian territorial integrity and raise the potential for broader military conflict.
• A security vacuum filled by armed militias and a repressive internal security apparatus that fosters sectarian violence and collective trauma.

This dual threat underscores the urgent need for a robust international response. The United Nations, independent human rights organizations, and humanitarian agencies must conduct simultaneous investigations into cross-border violations and internal atrocities. They should advocate for unhindered humanitarian access and insist on verifiable limitations on the use of force by all parties involved.

The choices before the international community are stark: either enforce law-based restraint supported by international verification or allow for the permanent division and balkanization of the region through force. The current trajectory—characterized by the expansion of military infrastructure, repeated strikes on sovereign territory, and domestic campaigns of sectarian violence—often appears to lean toward the latter outcome.