In southern Syria, Israeli policy risks backfiring
Tel Aviv justifies its army’s actions in the occupied regions by invoking the Oct. 7 attack, but ultimately, it could create a threat that did not previously exist.
by Abdullah OKAILY · L'Orient TodayAfter the fall of the Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024, the Syrian consensus around a settlement with Israel revealed a surprising pragmatism. After 14 years of war — and decades of exploiting the idea of "resistance" to justify oppression — most Syrians simply yearned for stability. A recurring refrain was heard: "If this brings calm, then it's for the better."Bolstered by this internal consensus and mainly wishing to consolidate its power, the new regime also prioritized this path, banking on diplomatic channels to achieve a security agreement. Instead of responding to these diplomatic signals of de-escalation, Tel Aviv, citing the events of Oct. 7, first annihilated the Syrian air force before extending its operations far beyond the 1974 disengagement line, pushing deep into the Quneitra countryside and up to the...
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