Said Amouri
08 December 2024•Update: 09 December 2024
JERUSALEM
The Israeli military announced Saturday that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi approved "offensive and defensive plans" to address "any potential threats" from Syria in light of the developments in that country.
Halevi held an assessment session with military leaders on the situation in Syria, during which he approved the plans to confront any threats coming from Syria, according to a statement from the army.
"Halevi underlined the importance of high preparedness, both offensively and defensively, as well as strengthening forces along the border with Syria. He also stressed the need to continue monitoring developments there,” it said.
The army noted that it reinforced its intelligence and information-gathering systems along the Syrian border.
In addition, the statement said the military bolstered ground and air forces along the border and raised the alert level on the front.
Israel is concerned about several potential scenarios due to the developments in Syria, including "the spillover of fire into its territory, border crossings by asylum seekers, and the possibility of ground and air attacks or missile launches," according to the army.
Anti-regime forces had taken control of most of Aleppo’s city center and established dominance across Idlib province by Nov. 30.
Following intense clashes Thursday, groups took control of the Hama city center from regime forces.
Anti-regime groups seized several settlements in the strategically important Homs province and began to advance.
On Friday, Syrian opposition groups took control of Daraa in southern Syria near the Jordanian border.
Earlier Saturday, they seized control of Suwayda province in the south. And local opposition forces in Quneitra gained control of the provincial capital.
The opposition Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom on Dec. 1 against the PKK/YPG terror group in the Tel Rifaat district of Aleppo's countryside, liberating the area from terror elements.
