The Jewish state has moved to control land in Gaza, and now the Golan Height’s as it holds part of the Syrian Border also….
There IS a YUGE push to try to shape the new Syrian Govt. into something UNLIKE a Islamist only one supported by Iran….
While Israel has worked to level all of Syria’s military equipment….
That vacuum military equipment situation could be filled by Turkey and others….
Turkey IS a NATO member that has connections to Russia also…..
“Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, and it is especially important at this time. We will continue to hold onto it, cause it to blossom, and settle in it,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Since Islamist rebels overthrew the decades-long Assad family regime on Dec. 8, Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes across Syria and carried out a land incursion that stretches past the occupied Golan Heights into a previously demilitarized buffer zone. The Israeli army swiftly took abandoned army positions, and air attacks have decimated most of Syria’s military capabilities.
Syria’s de facto new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Saturday denounced what he described as Israel’s “uncalculated military adventures” since his rebel group took power last week, but said he was more interested in state-building than opening another conflict. “Syria’s war-weary condition, after years of conflict and war, does not allow for new confrontations. The priority at this stage is reconstruction and stability, not being drawn into disputes that could lead to further destruction,” he said in an interview on Syria TV.
His comments appeared to do little to placate Israel’s government, and more airstrikes were launched overnight. “Despite the so-called moderate appearance of rebel leaders, the defense budget must be increased to address the escalating threats,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday.
Here’s what else to know
- Geir O. Pedersen, the U.N. envoy to Syria, said during a visit to Damascus, the Syrian capital, that the country’s political transition needs to be inclusive. “Change in itself creates great hopes, but we all know there are many challenges still ahead of us,” he said Sunday ahead of meetings planned with Syria’s caretaker government.
- Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said Sunday that his country’s priority was to defeat Kurdish forces in Syria and that Turkey was prepared to provide military support to the new administration.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that U.S. officials have been in direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and that he hopes Syria’s interim leaders will adhere to a set of principles in exchange for support and recognition of a future Syrian government. Blinken is also pushing for the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles.
- Blinken said Saturday he “impressed upon everyone” during his visit the importance of finding missing American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted near Damascus 12 years ago.
- The United States, Turkey and other Middle Eastern and Western powers issued a statement Saturday saying the transitional political process in Syria “must be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned” and “produce an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government.”…..
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