Israeli army and its buffer zone along the Syrian border
Following Assad's departure, Israel established a buffer zone along the Syrian border, dubiously citing self-defense. It subsequently positioned its forces along the frontier, and in particular on Mount Jabal al-Sheikh (also known as Mount Hermon).
A day later, the Israeli army admitted the occupation of Mount Hermon, claiming it was a necessary defensive action to prevent potential Syrian attacks on Golan Heights settlements.
Within a fortnight, an unprovoked Israeli military incursion into the Damascus countryside resulted in the destruction of over 300 targets, while the new Syrian regime forces fired not a single shot.
This unopposed aggression has elicited expert commentary, notably from Lynette Nusbacher, a former British intelligence officer. She points out that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) did not even condemn the Israeli occupation, concluding that Golani (HTS's leader) is in a secret alliance with Israel.
