israel-deploys-forces-in-golan-amid-syria-turmoil

Israel has positioned its forces in new locations within the buffer zone along the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heights. This move, announced on Sunday, follows escalating instability in Syria and marks the first such deployment since the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement was established.

 

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) explained the deployment in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, citing recent events in Syria, including the entry of armed individuals into the buffer zone.

 

The forces were stationed to safeguard the communities of the Golan Heights and Israel’s citizens. While reaffirming its stance of non-interference in Syria’s internal affairs, the IDF described the move as a necessary precaution for national security.

 

This deployment comes amid reports of mounting unrest in Syria, with the Assad regime appearing to lose its grip on power. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that rebel fighters had entered Damascus early on Sunday.

 

Simultaneously, government troops were seen withdrawing from strategic locations, including Damascus International Airport, with many soldiers abandoning their uniforms for civilian clothing.

 

Reports across various media outlets have suggested that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country, although the Syrian presidency maintains that he continues to fulfil his constitutional duties in the capital.

 

Social media videos from Damascus depict chaos, with heavy gunfire, panicked residents attempting to flee, and scenes of symbolic defiance.

 

One video shows the statue of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad’s father and predecessor, being pulled down—an image widely interpreted as a sign of the regime’s collapse.

 

The current turmoil in Syria has triggered a significant response within the country’s leadership.

 

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali addressed the nation via a Facebook post, expressing his openness to collaborate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people. He also urged citizens to refrain from damaging public property amid the chaos.