Israel Plans to Establish Control Zone in Syria

High-ranking Israeli officials confirmed late Thursday that Israel intends to establish a 15-kilometer operations buffer zone within Syrian territory to ensure that the Israeli military can maintain a strategic position that prevents adversaries of the new Syrian regime from launching missiles toward the Golan Heights.

According to the officials, whose identities have not been disclosed, Israel also sees the necessity of extending its influence by 60 kilometers (37 miles) into Syria, under the control of Israeli intelligence services, to monitor and preempt potential threats.

This plan was detailed in an online report by Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

The Israeli officials expressed shock at Western countries' open support for Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and voiced concerns over the shifting regional dynamics.

Following the seizure of power in Syria by armed factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham on December 8, Israel has taken control of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights and deployed troops to southern Syria.

Additionally, Israeli forces have launched strikes targeting Syrian military sites, including weapons depots, in a bid to assert its security dominance in the region.