Khaberni - The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Eyal Zamir, confirmed that Israel is closely monitoring developments in Syria, emphasizing that his forces will remain on high alert to prevent any potential threats at the border.
Zamir said, while inspecting the 210th Division in the northern region and touring southern Syria, that the army has established a "forward defense zone" inside Syria, which he considers a barrier against Israeli towns, while the forces continue to operate in it.
The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army added that his forces are operating in a "multi-front reality" where challenges are constantly changing. He pointed out that the Syrian front is one of these fronts and that Israel is following the events there and preparing for developments accordingly.
Warning of hostile positioning
Zamir emphasized that Israel "will not allow hostile forces to position themselves" on its borders, stressing that the army will use force "precisely" when necessary, at the right place and time. He explained that the goal is to prevent the development of terrorist threats, as well as preventing a significant military threat on the border, adding that Israel is still engaged in a multi-front war, which necessitates keeping its forces in a constant state of alert in anticipation of any escalation.
Praise for the reservists
During the visit, the Chief of Staff conducted an operational situation assessment and met with reservists deployed in the area, praising the division's level and the performance of the forces there.
Zamir said that he met with a reservist battalion that demonstrates a high level of professionalism, noting that some reservists have served hundreds of days since the start of the war, and he acknowledged the burden on them and their families, working to alleviate it.
Escalation after the bombing
Zamir's statements came one day after a new Israeli escalation in Syria where 8 Israeli airstrikes targeted the Abu Dhuhour air base in Idlib province in northwest Syria, in the early hours of Tuesday. The strikes hit the airbase runway and storage facilities, without reporting any human losses. These strikes were Israel's first attack on a Syrian government facility since last March.
Israel justified the strike by stating that Syria was nearing a breach of an existing security understanding by allowing Turkish forces to be stationed at the base, which Israel considered a threat to its security. However, Turkey denied these allegations, while the American special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, described the strike as an "unnecessary escalation," stating that Washington is working to establish a mechanism to prevent friction between Israel, Turkey, and Syria, as reported by "Reuters".
The Abu Dhuhour base gained additional significance in this escalation, having been out of service since 2013, and witnessing a change of control over it during the years of the Syrian war, coming after a visit by a Turkish military delegation to assess rehabilitation work at the site, as reported by "Reuters".
