Introduction
The presence of Israel has a different motive in its presence in Syria, unlike the Western countries. In his journal slater (2002) explain that the motive of the presence of the Western countries in Syria is to destroy the Militia groups such the Al Qaeda and the Sunnis extremist. These militia group has been a threat to the security of the western countries. On the other hand,The motive of Israel involvement in Syria is to counter the activities of Iran and preventing them from expanding their territories in Syria to the Israeli border. Israel is has a significant concern about the security threats posed by Iran to its citizens. The tension between Iran and Israel over Syria has worsened in recent years and the Israel army has perceived Iranian military reinforcement in support of the Syria Army as the potential threat. The military renforcement of Iran to the Syrian Army in capturing most of the territories has boosted its bargaining power to establish a long-lasting military base in Syria. The security agents of Israel saw the deployment of these Iranian forces near the Israeli border as the potential threat to the security in the region specifically in the northern border (Maoz). This has hence forced Israel to get involved in the Syrian operations to restore sanity. Besides, ISrael has conducted serious airstrike on Syria majorly targeting the convoy moving weapons to Hezbollah. The Iranian chemical weapon facilities and military personnel has also been destroyed by the Isreal airstrikes.
As explained by Rodman(2013,pp.597-599), Iran and Israel have been fighting since 1979 during the Islamic revolution. The confrontation between Iran and the Israeli in the northern border was stimulated by the Hezbollah group who hate the motive of executing their frequent conflict with Israel despite Iran avoiding confrontation with Israel. More so, Israel always strike places in Syria which are suspected to be a potential threat to the national security. Iran values Syria for one main reason, to get an opportunity to ship sophisticated weaponry to Hezbollah. Assad’s regime also has a lot of support to Iran despite hatred from many nations. The shipment of these weapons is to be used by the Hezbollah to attack the Israeli territories. To counter this, the Israeli government has invaded Syria to monitor the movement of these weapons and have access to intelligent reports in the region. Likewise, Iran has had a solid tie with the Hezbollah because they rely on them in acquiring weapons to be used in carrying out their attacks on Israel and other potential enemies (Kanaan).
How Iran came to Syria
The Syria internal conflict got the attention of Iran, Hezbollah and other militia who came to Syria in 2011 to fight (Maoz). As well, the Iranian forces provided food, military personnel, sophisticated weapon and financial support to the Syrian government. By 2017, the international community as viewed Iran as the potential base of some dangerous Militia group such as Al-Qaeda which was the threat to world security. They could extend their war to the neighboring countries prompting intercession from various state. The Israel government came up with red line policy that stressed that they were to strike back in case these policies were interposed. The policy also aimed at preventing Iran from establishing military bases and weapon manufacturing facilities near the Israel border. This was seen as the potential threat in northern Israel and they stated that they would be pressured to directly face up Iran if they do not stick by the policies.
Relationship between Syria and Israel
Israel and Syria have shared human-centered aid for the Syrian refugee. Their involvement in Syria is to counter Iran and other militia groups which is a threat to their security. The most critical militia group present in Syria are the Hezbollah and the Al-Qaeda (Can). We have since experienced a significant world dispute between the Arabs countries and Israel. The rapid growth of Iran in northern Israel has thrown the concern of the government about the security of the citizen in these borders. Israel has hence established a diplomatic ways of resolving their conflict with whom they have engaged in civil war majorly in 1948, 1967, 1973 and 1982. Various peace pact has been signed though the influence of certain militia groups have not come to an end. They are still a threat to the security of Israel prompting them to retaliate. Besides, The ill will between the Israeli and Syria has hence never ended.
The Israeli leaders such as the former Prime Minister Sharon in the year 2004 approached Syria for negotiation and resolving land issues but was opposed. The controversy behind the rejection was that Syria would support the terrorist group and Iran if their will be peace. The peace meeting that was organized and held with the Turkish failedciting the same reason.
Threats to the Israel security
There are various threat to the national security of Israel that has prompted its military involvement in Syria. First, the Iranian military personnel invading Syria and its financial support of militia group and the manufacturing facilities for chemical weapon (Boms). In addition,The cooperation between the Hezbollah and the Iran military group is a threat to the security at the northern border of Israel. The unity of the two millitia group can boost their energy to attacking the Israel territory causing a lot of destruction. The Syrian allowing Iran to carry own with their activities means that the Hezbollah group will got a better chance to use sophisticated and disastrous weapon to attack Israel. As well, they will have a clear way to execute their mission from southern Lebanon and execute their heinous activities in the largest town in Israel. This hence prompted the Israeli government to get involved in checking the security operation in Syria and obtain the intelligence information about these groups (Maoz).
The operation carried by the Russian in Syria also created some hostility in Israel as a result of the fall of the Soviet Union (Katz). Before the fall, the Arab countries were the leading suppliers of sophisticated weapon and the conflict of Arabs was also as a result of this cold war. The Russian involvement in the Syrian war poses a threat to the security of Israel citizen by allowing the presence of the Assad regime and Iranian which are the main enemies of Israel. There has been a wide speculation that the sophisticated weapon made in Russia is getting to the hand of the Hezbollah group which are the main enemies the Israel military. The Syrian Army is responsible for the supply of the weapon because they obtain these it from Russia due to their presence in the state. The presence of Russia also hinders the security operation carried out by Israel on particular groups. This can cause conflict between Israel and the Russian as they can get involved in unintentional battles.
The Sunni militia group is also carrying out an operation in Syria. They learn their attack strategies from the Islamic extremist. This can be a potential destabilization of peace in Egypt and Jordan. Various peace pact signed will be interfered which will see Israel as the potential attack ground by the ISIS and other organized militia groups. To prevent this, the Israeli government is interested in knowing all the steps made by the Sunni groups operating in Syria. The recent civil war in the Syrian has also incorporated the Assad’s regime. These Assad’s group depends on the Hezbollah and the Iran which has enable them to have dominance in most of Syria. This also hinders any effort to negotiate peace between Israel and Syria hence peace agreement between Syria and Israel will not be realized soon. Israel stand in line with the Syrian war remain not interfered. Nevertheless, they have issued a strong statement that going past their red line will be faced by retaliation from Israel. The use of sophisticated weapons, missiles and shipping of chemical weapons to Hezbollah will be faced with a lot of resistance from Israel. This has also hindered the peace agreement between Israel and Syria.
The action of Israel in Syria
The Israel government have conducted many operations in the Syrian including the destruction of the chemical weapons manufacturing plants in the Hama province (Maoz). Israel also tends to involve the United State and Russia when carrying out their operation. Also, the Israel medical team are offering medical care to the Nusra group who are the forerunners in fighting the Hezbollah and the Al-Qaeda terrorist militia. Israel also provides a lot of support to the rebel groups such as food, salaries, weapons and even medical care in the border of Israel. The Israel government have also created a select group to look at the needs of these rebel groups. This is strong evidence that Israel is involved in the Syrian civil war (Rodman). Through this assistance, it clearly shows that they are the forerunners in the fighting though they stay away from any claim.
Israel has taken very many actions to counter security threats. They have disrupted the transport of sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah and Iran. They also hindered the construction of the Iranian militia camp in southern Syria. If this could have happened, the Hezbollah could have had humble time to carry out their attacks against the Israel territories. The Hezbollah group could have also strengthened the Iranian – backed militia group located in the Golan Heights. The Israeli have also come up with the red line warning and responding whenever those policies are disrupted. These policies have been a strong warning to the Syrian, Iran and the Hezbollah placing Israel in a stronger position both in the military and at the strategic level.
Besides, the Israel intelligence services are trying to establish the location of the sophisticated weapons brought from Russia by the Syria Army. They are doing so to prevent those weapons from landing to the Hezbollah as it will strengthen their attacks against Israel. Israel is also boosting its relationship with Turkey because the country shares a common enemy with Israel present in Syria. With cooperation with turkey, they have strengthen the fight against Iran and the Hezbollah. The two countries are the neighborhood to the Syrian. The Israel has also extended its global relationship signing a lot of treaties with many countries on how they will deal with the ISIS group. They termed the ISIS as not only a threat to the security of Israel but a threat to global security.
Despite Russia rejecting some proposal from Israel, they have since had some long term relationship. For instance, the 60 km buffer zone suggestion by the Israel government between the Golan Height and any Iranian invaded regions was rejected. Russia and Israel still cooperate in the south west of Syria to combat any threatening uprising. Russian presence in Syria has been working as the closest mediator between Israel and Iran and besides Israel and Syria. The cooperation has been to the interest of the Israel security and also disrupting the activities of its enemies. The Israel government have also made several approaches to the United States government to extend their support in the fight against their enemies. They have since proposed a joint plan that will assist in dealing with their enemies.
The decision by Iran to back the Syrian army has worried Israel as it is not clear on how the war will end. This has enabled the Syrian to take control of most of Syria. The decision of the Syrian army to accept support from Iran is what has upset the Israeli Army. Such a move will boost the operation of the Iranian militia and the Hezbollah to extend their base to near the Israeli border. Approaching the Israel border means a threat to Israel security. Several groups have split and control Syria specifically the ISIS, Sunni, Alawites, Russia, U.S., Turkey and the Iranian is what has also upset Israel as this hinders intelligence services. Israel is therefore forced to be the forerunners in the fight soon as to counter all its enemies from approaching their borders. Iran and Hezbollah are sharing the common enemy which Israel may form a stronger union and direct their attacks to the Israel territory. Israel is therefore forced to keep track of these group to plan and initiate measure that will combat the group’s activities. The continued war in Syria among several parties may be beneficial to Israel. The battle for control of the Syrian part by the militant group will reduce the likelihood they will turn their weapons to Israel shortly. Israel should therefore monitor the activities in Syria in terms of military and diplomatic operations (Rodman).
Israel has achieved several objectives since its involvement in Syria. They have had a chance to counter the influence of Iran in Syria and prevent them from expanding their territories to Syria. They have hence reduced the shipment of sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah. They have consequently prevented Syria from posing a security threat to Israel. Israel also has destroyed the sunniest militants from establishing military camps and facilities along their border. The goals of Israel is to see a central government operating in Syria that is not controlled by other territories like Iran. The government Israel wish for Syria is the one which is too weak to threaten their security and the Israel military. Nevertheless, if the peace agreement is reached, the region will be subdivided into territories with diverse influence making the central government very weak. The continued battles between the Iranian and the Sunnis is to the advantage of Israel as they have less attention to directing their fight to Israel.
How Russian Military operation to influence the Israeli operation
The presence of Russia in Syria has also prompted Israel interest in Syria. Israel intends to counter Russia from building a permanent military base in Syria. They also want to make sure that Iran does not obtain any military reinforcement from Iran. Israel also monitors the operation by the Russian military to make sure that they do not awaken the Assad regime. Russia might be targeting to strengthen the Assad regime to keep up the presence of Syrian navy in the coastal region (Maoz). In case the Russian presence in Syria decided to support the Assad regime, the Iranian will gain more strength and influence in Syria as it promotes its ideologies. This therefore poses a threat to the security of Israel. Russian power has weakened the Israeli power in Syria. First, Russia is building a strong military relationship with Syria that backs up the Assad regime supported by Iran and Hezbollah. Secondly, the Israeli government does not want Hezbollah to get access to the weapons from the Russian Army through the presence of Iran in Syria. In most cases, Moscow supplies sophisticated weapons to the Syrian Army which work hand in hand with the Iranian Army. This therefore means these weapons can be transferred to the Hezbollah if not checked regularly. The leaders have hence wanted the Russian government to prevent the transfer of weapon from Syria to Hezbollah, for example as urged by the Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Russian presence in Syria has also hindered the freedom of Israel carrying out their operation comfortably (Campbell et al.). Israel, for instance, have bombed various convoy believed to be involved in shipping weapons to Hezbollah. The presence of Israeli military might counter such attacks in the future by blocking the aircraft from Israel causing severe danger to the Israeli pilots. The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu visited Moscow in 2015 to convince his counterpart not to interfere with the Israel operation to destroy a shipment of weapon to Hezbollah. Lastly, conflict might arise between the Russian troops and the Israel troops either caused intentionally or unintentionally. An incident happened when the Russian military was carrying out their operation in the Turkish border. The Turkish military brought down the aircraft accidentally. This incident might also occur, where the Russian army might combat the Israel aircraft while carrying out their military activities. In the long run, the Israel military personnel might even cause injuries to the Russian personnel presence in Syria. This might stimulate conflicts between the two countries. On September 2015, the president of Russia, Putin and the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting to address the issue (Olmert). They agreed that each party should be aware of the operation being carried out to prevent these conflict from arising.
Conclusion
The Israel-Syrian border is becoming a battle zone due to the expansion of Iranian activities. The Iranian operation in Israel will force Israel to retaliate. Their “red line” policies also will prompt severe consequences if the militia group interferes their Northern border. Israel should continue with its operation of combating weapons being donated by the Syrian military to Hezbollah to ensure that its territories are safeguarded. The Israeli government should therefore sign various treaties with the Russian army who has a significant influence and control of the Syrian to prevent the transfer of these sophisticated weapons. The agreement should also grant freedom to Israel to carry on with their airstrike without interference by the Russian military and to avoid conflicts arising. Israel has got intelligence information on the shipment and its air strike to combat this shipment. The Israeli is also aware that more dangerous regime will emerge and hence the need to involve themselves in the Syrian operation and counter check the activities carried out by the Iranian in Syria. All this operation intends to make sure that the security of the Israeli territories is not at risk.
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