Analyst: Multiple regional, international actors shape Syrian landscape
Syria, a critical geostrategic point in West Asia, has long been a battleground for numerous regional and international actors, each pursuing their own interests, a former Iranian diplomat believes.
In a new op-ed published a day before the fall of the government in Damascus, former Iranian diplomat and political analyst, Sabah Zanganeh, wrote that Syria’s proximity to the Mediterranean, Palestine, and Jordan makes it a pivotal area of contention.
“Russia, with its significant presence in Syria, particularly in Tartus and Hmeimim, seeks to maintain its influence in the region. Conversely, the US is active in northern Syria, primarily aiming to control oil and gas resources and support Israel,” he noted.
Zanganeh further explained that Turkey’s historical ties to Syria trace back to the Ottoman era, and it continues to assert its influence, particularly in Idlib, where Ankara supports opposition groups and proxies.
However, the picture is not complete yet, as he argues the ongoing conflict in the country has drawn in other actors.
“Ukraine, currently at odds with Russia, is reportedly providing training to insurgents, including in drone operations, to exert pressure on Iranian allies in Syria,” he elaborated.
The situation is so grave that Persian Gulf states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have expressed concerns over the presence of terrorists and advocate for stability, he stated.
The complex web of interests and alliances underscores the multifaceted nature of the Syrian conflict, where geopolitical strategies and historical ties intertwine to shape the country’s future, Zanganeh wrote.
Local media report festivities in Tripoli, al-Beddawi, and Danniyeh
Faruk Hanedar |08.12.2024 - TRT/AA
BEIRUT
Residents of Lebanon's Tripoli marked the takeover of Syria’s capital, Damascus, by anti-regime armed groups on Sunday.
According to Lebanese media, celebrations were primarily held in al-Nur Square in Tripoli, where the crowd set off fireworks to commemorate the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Similar gatherings took place in northern Lebanese areas, including al-Beddawi and Danniyeh.
In Akkar, near the Lebanese-Syrian border, signs of the Syrian Ba'ath Party were reportedly removed.
Developments in Syria
Clashes between Assad regime forces and anti-regime groups erupted on Nov. 27 in rural areas west of Aleppo, a significant city in northern Syria.
On Nov. 30, anti-regime forces captured most of Aleppo’s center and secured full control of Idlib province. Last Thursday, following intense clashes, they seized the city center of Hama.
The groups also advanced in Homs, a strategically crucial province leading to Damascus, capturing key settlements.
In Daraa province near the Jordanian border, opposition forces launched an operation on Friday, regaining control of the city center. The same day, they took over Suwayda province in the south and Quneitra’s provincial center.
By Saturday, anti-regime groups had seized Homs' provincial center and begun advancing into Damascus' southern suburbs. Regime forces abandoned key locations, including the Defense and Interior ministries and Damascus International Airport.
By Sunday morning, the Assad regime had lost all control over the capital.
Meanwhile, in ‘Operation Dawn of Freedom’ launched on Dec. 1, the opposition Syrian National Army liberated the Tel Rifaat district center from the PKK/YPG terrorist organization in Aleppo's rural areas.
*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Ankara
Reuters
December 8, 2024
Smoke rises as people gather in Damascus, after Syrian rebels said on Sunday that they have ended Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year authoritarian rule, in their first announcement on state television following a lightning offensive that took the world by surprise, Syria December 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters
The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s rule over Syria marks the culmination of a nearly 14-year rebellion and a key moment in a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced half the population and drew in outside powers.
Syrian rebels say they have toppled Assad in state television announcement
This is how it unfolded:
2011 - The first protests against Assad quickly spread across the country, and are met by security forces with a wave of arrests and shootings. Some protesters take up guns and military units defect as the uprising becomes an armed revolt that will gain support from Western and Arab countries and Turkiye.
2012 - A bombing in Damascus is the first by al Qaeda’s new Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, which gains in power and starts crushing groups with a nationalist ideology. World powers meet in Geneva and agree on the need for a political transition, but their divisions on how to achieve it will foil years of UN-sponsored peace efforts. Assad turns his air force on opposition strongholds, as rebels gain ground and the war escalates with massacres on both sides.
2013 - Lebanon’s Hezbollah helps Assad to victory at Qusayr, halting rebel momentum and showing the Iran-backed group’s growing role in the conflict. Washington has declared chemical weapons use a red line, but a gas attack on rebel-held eastern Ghouta near Damascus kills scores of civilians without triggering a US military response.
2014 - Islamic State group suddenly seizes Raqqa in the northeast and swathes more territory in Syria and Iraq. Rebels in the Old City of Homs surrender, agreeing to move to an outer suburb - their first big defeat in a major urban area and a precursor to future “evacuation” deals. Washington builds an anti-Islamic State coalition and starts air strikes, helping Kurdish forces turn the militant tide but creating friction with its ally Turkiye.
2015 - With better cooperation and more arms from abroad, rebel groups gain more ground and seize northwestern Idlib, but militants are taking a bigger role. Russia joins the war on Assad’s side with air strikes that turn the conflict against the rebels for years to come.
2016 - Alarmed by Kurdish advances on the border, Turkiye launches an incursion with allied rebels, making a new zone of Turkish control. The Syrian army and its allies defeat rebels in Aleppo, seen at the time as Assad’s biggest victory of the war. The Nusra Front splits from al Qaeda and starts trying to present itself in a moderate light, adopting a series of new names and eventually settling on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
2017 - Israel acknowledges air strikes against Hezbollah in Syria, aiming to degrade the growing strength of Iran and its allies. US-backed, Kurdish-led forces defeat Islamic State in Raqqa. That offensive, and a rival one by the Syrian army, drive the jihadist group from nearly all its land.
2018 - The Syrian army recaptures eastern Ghouta, before quickly retaking the other insurgent enclaves in central Syria, and then the rebels’ southern bastion of Deraa.
2019 - Islamic State loses its last scrap of territory in Syria. The US decides to keep some troops in the country to prevent attacks on its Kurdish allies.
2020 - Russia backs a government offensive that ends with a ceasefire with Turkiye that freezes most front lines. Assad holds most territory and all main cities, appearing deeply entrenched. Rebels hold the northwest. A Turkiye-backed force holds a border strip. Kurdish-led forces control the northeast.
2023 - The Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 triggers fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, ultimately reducing the group’s presence in Syria and fatally undermining Assad.
2024 - Rebels launch a new assault on Aleppo. With Assad’s allies focused elsewhere his army quickly collapses. Eight days after the fall of Aleppo the rebels have taken most major cities and enter Damascus, driving Assad from power.
The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s rule over Syria marks the culmination of a nearly 14-year rebellion and a key moment in a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced half the population and drew in outside powers.
Syrian rebels say they have toppled Assad in state television announcement
This is how it unfolded:
2011 - The first protests against Assad quickly spread across the country, and are met by security forces with a wave of arrests and shootings. Some protesters take up guns and military units defect as the uprising becomes an armed revolt that will gain support from Western and Arab countries and Turkiye.
2012 - A bombing in Damascus is the first by al Qaeda’s new Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, which gains in power and starts crushing groups with a nationalist ideology. World powers meet in Geneva and agree on the need for a political transition, but their divisions on how to achieve it will foil years of UN-sponsored peace efforts. Assad turns his air force on opposition strongholds, as rebels gain ground and the war escalates with massacres on both sides.
2013 - Lebanon’s Hezbollah helps Assad to victory at Qusayr, halting rebel momentum and showing the Iran-backed group’s growing role in the conflict. Washington has declared chemical weapons use a red line, but a gas attack on rebel-held eastern Ghouta near Damascus kills scores of civilians without triggering a US military response.
2014 - Islamic State group suddenly seizes Raqqa in the northeast and swathes more territory in Syria and Iraq. Rebels in the Old City of Homs surrender, agreeing to move to an outer suburb - their first big defeat in a major urban area and a precursor to future “evacuation” deals. Washington builds an anti-Islamic State coalition and starts air strikes, helping Kurdish forces turn the militant tide but creating friction with its ally Turkiye.
2015 - With better cooperation and more arms from abroad, rebel groups gain more ground and seize northwestern Idlib, but militants are taking a bigger role. Russia joins the war on Assad’s side with air strikes that turn the conflict against the rebels for years to come.
2016 - Alarmed by Kurdish advances on the border, Turkiye launches an incursion with allied rebels, making a new zone of Turkish control. The Syrian army and its allies defeat rebels in Aleppo, seen at the time as Assad’s biggest victory of the war. The Nusra Front splits from al Qaeda and starts trying to present itself in a moderate light, adopting a series of new names and eventually settling on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
2017 - Israel acknowledges air strikes against Hezbollah in Syria, aiming to degrade the growing strength of Iran and its allies. US-backed, Kurdish-led forces defeat Islamic State in Raqqa. That offensive, and a rival one by the Syrian army, drive the jihadist group from nearly all its land.
2018 - The Syrian army recaptures eastern Ghouta, before quickly retaking the other insurgent enclaves in central Syria, and then the rebels’ southern bastion of Deraa.
2019 - Islamic State loses its last scrap of territory in Syria. The US decides to keep some troops in the country to prevent attacks on its Kurdish allies.
2020 - Russia backs a government offensive that ends with a ceasefire with Turkiye that freezes most front lines. Assad holds most territory and all main cities, appearing deeply entrenched. Rebels hold the northwest. A Turkiye-backed force holds a border strip. Kurdish-led forces control the northeast.
2023 - The Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 triggers fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, ultimately reducing the group’s presence in Syria and fatally undermining Assad.
2024 - Rebels launch a new assault on Aleppo. With Assad’s allies focused elsewhere his army quickly collapses. Eight days after the fall of Aleppo the rebels have taken most major cities and enter Damascus, driving Assad from power.
STEALINING THE GOLAN
Syria's war began in 2011
AFP | 12/08/2024
An Israeli soldier walks past tanks deployed near the Israel-Syria border in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights on December 8. Photo: AFP
The Israeli military said Sunday it had deployed forces to a demilitarised buffer zone in southwest Syria abutting the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights after Damascus fell to rebel forces.
Israel had already said the day before, as the Islamist-led rebels swiftly advanced across Syria, that its soldiers had entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone to assist peacekeepers in repelling an attack.
On Sunday, the army announced a troop deployment there, citing "the possible entry of armed individuals into the buffer zone".
"Following the recent events in Syria... the IDF (army) has deployed forces in the buffer zone and in several other places necessary for its defence, to ensure the safety of the communities of the Golan Heights and the citizens of Israel," a military statement said.
Israeli forces "will continue to operate as long as necessary in order to preserve the buffer zone and defend Israel", it added.
The statement stressed that the Israeli military "is not interfering with the internal events in Syria".
Since the rebel coalition, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, began its renewed offensive against the forces of President Bashar al-Assad on November 27, Syrian government forces have left positions near the Israeli-held Golan, according to a war monitor.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said on Saturday that army forces had withdrawn from positions in Quneitra province, which includes part of the Golan Heights.
Most of the plateau has been occupied since 1967 by Israel, which later annexed it in a move not recognised by most of the international community.
In 1974 the buffer zone was established, separating the Israeli-held and Syrian territories, with UN peacekeepers stationed there since.
A UN Peacekeeping spokesperson said on Saturday that UNDOF personnel had observed "unidentified armed individuals in the area of separation, including approximately 20 who went into one of the mission's positions in the northern part of the area of separation".
The Israeli army said it was "assisting the UN forces in repelling the attack".
The UN spokesperson said that "peacekeepers continue to carry out their mandated activities on the Golan".
On Sunday, Lebanese media outlets reported an Israeli strike on Quneitra targeting an arms depot. The Israeli military declined to comment.
In a separate statement, the Israeli military said schools in the northern Golan Heights, in an area covering four Druze towns, would move to online teaching, also declaring a "closed military zone" in agricultural lands in the area.
Early in Syria's war, which began in 2011 following the repression of anti-government protests, rebel forces and jihadist groups had taken over parts of Quneitra province.
In August 2014, Islamist rebels attacked UNDOF and took more than 40 Fijian peacekeepers hostage, holding them captive for almost two weeks.
The Israeli military said Sunday it had deployed forces to a demilitarised buffer zone in southwest Syria abutting the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights after Damascus fell to rebel forces.
Israel had already said the day before, as the Islamist-led rebels swiftly advanced across Syria, that its soldiers had entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone to assist peacekeepers in repelling an attack.
On Sunday, the army announced a troop deployment there, citing "the possible entry of armed individuals into the buffer zone".
"Following the recent events in Syria... the IDF (army) has deployed forces in the buffer zone and in several other places necessary for its defence, to ensure the safety of the communities of the Golan Heights and the citizens of Israel," a military statement said.
Israeli forces "will continue to operate as long as necessary in order to preserve the buffer zone and defend Israel", it added.
The statement stressed that the Israeli military "is not interfering with the internal events in Syria".
Since the rebel coalition, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, began its renewed offensive against the forces of President Bashar al-Assad on November 27, Syrian government forces have left positions near the Israeli-held Golan, according to a war monitor.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said on Saturday that army forces had withdrawn from positions in Quneitra province, which includes part of the Golan Heights.
Most of the plateau has been occupied since 1967 by Israel, which later annexed it in a move not recognised by most of the international community.
In 1974 the buffer zone was established, separating the Israeli-held and Syrian territories, with UN peacekeepers stationed there since.
A UN Peacekeeping spokesperson said on Saturday that UNDOF personnel had observed "unidentified armed individuals in the area of separation, including approximately 20 who went into one of the mission's positions in the northern part of the area of separation".
The Israeli army said it was "assisting the UN forces in repelling the attack".
The UN spokesperson said that "peacekeepers continue to carry out their mandated activities on the Golan".
On Sunday, Lebanese media outlets reported an Israeli strike on Quneitra targeting an arms depot. The Israeli military declined to comment.
In a separate statement, the Israeli military said schools in the northern Golan Heights, in an area covering four Druze towns, would move to online teaching, also declaring a "closed military zone" in agricultural lands in the area.
Early in Syria's war, which began in 2011 following the repression of anti-government protests, rebel forces and jihadist groups had taken over parts of Quneitra province.
In August 2014, Islamist rebels attacked UNDOF and took more than 40 Fijian peacekeepers hostage, holding them captive for almost two weeks.
Israel and Syria: Eternal enemies and perpetual war - explainer
The State of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic have never had formal ties since the inception of both countries in the 20th century.
Crowds of Syrians gathered in Damascus on Sunday morning, waving flags and chanting “Freedom” to celebrate the end of the Assad family’s decades-long rule. Witnesses described scenes of jubilation as thousands filled the streets.
This stunning turn of events is a significant blow to Russia and Iran, who lose a pivotal ally in the Middle East. Iran, in particular, in its existential battle against Israel, will see the loss of a close ally on the Jewish State’s borders as a major blow to its operations with proxy group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel and Syria – A brief history of relations
The State of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic have never had formal ties since the inception of both countries in the 20th century.
The two countries have been locked in a perpetual state of war since the establishment of Israel in May 1948 and an immediate declaration of war. The Syrian army initially captured territories in the newly formed State of Israel near the Sea of Galilee during the War of Independence.
Following the July 1949 Armistice Agreement, much of this land was returned to Israel and designated as Demilitarized Zones (DMZs). However, disputes over borders, territorial ownership, and agricultural rights in these zones led to intermittent skirmishes until the Six Day War in 1967.
In the early 1950s, Syria gradually regained control over some disputed areas along the Golan Heights, particularly around the Sea of Galilee. These territorial disputes were exacerbated by conflicts over water rights, including Israel’s attempts to use water from the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee for irrigation and drinking purposes.
From 1964 to 1966, Syria undertook a project to divert the Jordan River’s tributaries, which would have significantly impacted Israel’s water supply. This provoked intensified clashes, culminating in one of the key crises that led to the Six Day War.
The United Arab Republic (UAR) was officially formed on February 1, 1958, as an early step towards achieving broader pan-Arab unity between Syria and Egypt.
The initiative was first proposed to Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser by a group of influential political and military figures from Syria and saw the cementing of ties between the two countries, which would lead them to much failure in their battles against Israel.
Syria, with its strong pan-Arab sentiment, was a natural proponent of such a union. Nasser had become an iconic leader across the Arab world following his defiance of Western powers during the 1956 Suez Crisis, bolstering his popularity in Syria.
The Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party emerged as one of the most vocal advocates for this merger, reflecting the broader aspirations for Arab solidarity and unification.
Although the Syrian front was largely quiet for the first four days of the Six Day War, Syrian artillery began shelling northern Israel, and twelve Syrian jets attacked Israeli settlements in the Galilee.
Israel responded with military force, and by June 10, the IDF concluded its final military operation in the Golan Heights; a ceasefire agreement followed the next day.
As a result of the war in the North, Israel captured the Golan Heights, and an estimated 100,000 fled the region into Syria and neighboring Lebanon. The Golan Heights also provided Israel with an increased buffer zone against Syria.
The Assads
The Arab defeat in the Six Day War provoked a furious response inside Syria, with increased tensions between the civilian and military leadership over who was responsible for the loss of the Golan Heights.
In a 1970 coup d’etat in the country, Defense Minister Hafez Assad, an Alawite from Qardahah, ousted de facto strongman Salah Jadid and took power, beginning the rule of the Assad clan until its fall this weekend.
On October 6, 1973, Syria and Egypt responded to their humiliation of ‘67 by invading Israel on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – Yom Kippur. In a shock attack, Syrian forces invaded Israel and made territorial gains in the Golan Heights.
After three days, Israel had pushed most of the Syrians back to the Purple Line, the ceasefire line from the Six Day War. Israel then launched a counteroffensive into Syria, shelling the outskirts of Damascus with IDF troops stationed only 30 km. from the Syrian capital.
Syria lost some 3,000 troops in its third major war with Israel.
The US-brokered 1974 disengagement agreement, facilitated by former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, marked a significant moment in Syrian-Israeli relations. Syria recovered some lost territory, including Quneitra, as part of this agreement.
UN forces have monitored its implementation since. Kissinger also played a role in delivering a list of Israeli prisoners of war held by Syria, helping to pave the way for a prisoner exchange and troop disengagement in the northern theater.
In December 1981, the Knesset passed legislation applying Israeli law to the portion of the Golan Heights under its control. This move was met with international criticism, and the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution urging Israel to revoke the decision.
The following year, in 1982, Israel launched an invasion of southern Lebanon aimed at expelling the PLO. Syrian forces joined the conflict in support of Lebanon but faced significant defeats by Israeli forces. Despite this, Syria maintained its backing for Lebanese terror groups, a dynamic that persisted until the IDF’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
During the 1990s peace talks, Syria demanded that Israel withdraw to the pre-1967 borders. Despite these efforts, the territorial dispute over the Golan Heights persists.
Syria’s attempts to reclaim the Golan during the 1973 Yom Kippur War were unsuccessful, aside from recovering limited areas through the 1974 agreement, which required Syrian forces to pull back even further from their previous positions.
In June 2000, Hafez Assad died, and his son Bashar took the reins of power, formally taking the role of president in July of that year.
The younger Assad had no intentions or aspirations of improved relations with Israel. In 2006, Syria threatened to enter the Second Lebanon War on the side of Hezbollah, to which it continuously provided support, and allowed the Iranians to use Syria as a route to ship supplies to the Lebanese terror group.
This continued through 2024, as Israel has routed Hezbollah from southern Lebanon, attacked Iranian proxies in Syria, and dealt the Islamic Republic a blow by attacking its oil infrastructure.
Despite a lack of any ties, Israel did provide some assistance during the Syrian Civil War, which began when demonstrations began against Assad’s presidency in 2011 and then erupted into military campaigns, lasting well over a decade.
Humanitarian aid provided to Syrians became a focus of the Israelis, and in June 2016, the IDF began Operation Good Neighbor, a humanitarian relief operation to provide aid to Syrians who live along the border and provide basic or advanced medical treatment.
There have also been several small agreements to allow members of the Druze community who live in the Golan Heights to enter Israel and Syria for both business and familial reasons.
Israel will be watching the consequences of Assad’s fall closely. Not only has an enemy regime fallen, but observers will be keen to note how any replacement government, whether Islamist or not, deals with the Jewish State as its neighbor.
Iran’s role in Syria will have been severely undermined due to Assad’s fall, as will the provisions it can provide to Hezbollah through the country. Israeli politicians, meanwhile, have been using the regime change to signify an opportunity to create a new regional alliance, one that has never existed since Israel came into being in 1948.
The State of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic have never had formal ties since the inception of both countries in the 20th century.
By ALEX WINSTON
DECEMBER 8, 2024
JERUSALEM POST
Illustrative of an Israel flag and Syria flag, with soldiers and weapons.(photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
Scenes of enraptured crowds celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad emerged from Damascus on Sunday as Syrian rebels declared the removal of Assad’s regime after taking control of the capital, marking the end of his family’s 50-year grip on power.
The Islamist forces of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who led the rebel groups to almost final victory in the Syrian Civil War, also significantly undermined the regional influence of Assad’s key backers, Russia and Iran, who played crucial roles in sustaining his regime during critical phases of the conflict.
Assad reportedly fled Damascus earlier on Sunday, heading to an undisclosed location, according to senior military sources. Rebel forces, now in control of the capital, reported no visible resistance from government forces as they entered the city.
In a statement, the rebels celebrated their victory, referencing Sednaya prison, infamous for housing thousands of government detainees. “We rejoice with the Syrian people in breaking their chains and the end of the era of oppression,” they declared.
The coalition of opposition groups announced plans to transition power to an interim governing authority with full executive powers. “The Syrian revolution has progressed from overthrowing Assad’s regime to rebuilding a nation worthy of its people’s sacrifices,” the group stated
Scenes of enraptured crowds celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad emerged from Damascus on Sunday as Syrian rebels declared the removal of Assad’s regime after taking control of the capital, marking the end of his family’s 50-year grip on power.
The Islamist forces of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who led the rebel groups to almost final victory in the Syrian Civil War, also significantly undermined the regional influence of Assad’s key backers, Russia and Iran, who played crucial roles in sustaining his regime during critical phases of the conflict.
Assad reportedly fled Damascus earlier on Sunday, heading to an undisclosed location, according to senior military sources. Rebel forces, now in control of the capital, reported no visible resistance from government forces as they entered the city.
In a statement, the rebels celebrated their victory, referencing Sednaya prison, infamous for housing thousands of government detainees. “We rejoice with the Syrian people in breaking their chains and the end of the era of oppression,” they declared.
The coalition of opposition groups announced plans to transition power to an interim governing authority with full executive powers. “The Syrian revolution has progressed from overthrowing Assad’s regime to rebuilding a nation worthy of its people’s sacrifices,” the group stated
.
A rebel fighter gestures in Homs countryside, in Syria, December 7, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Hasano)
Crowds of Syrians gathered in Damascus on Sunday morning, waving flags and chanting “Freedom” to celebrate the end of the Assad family’s decades-long rule. Witnesses described scenes of jubilation as thousands filled the streets.
This stunning turn of events is a significant blow to Russia and Iran, who lose a pivotal ally in the Middle East. Iran, in particular, in its existential battle against Israel, will see the loss of a close ally on the Jewish State’s borders as a major blow to its operations with proxy group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel and Syria – A brief history of relations
The State of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic have never had formal ties since the inception of both countries in the 20th century.
The two countries have been locked in a perpetual state of war since the establishment of Israel in May 1948 and an immediate declaration of war. The Syrian army initially captured territories in the newly formed State of Israel near the Sea of Galilee during the War of Independence.
Following the July 1949 Armistice Agreement, much of this land was returned to Israel and designated as Demilitarized Zones (DMZs). However, disputes over borders, territorial ownership, and agricultural rights in these zones led to intermittent skirmishes until the Six Day War in 1967.
In the early 1950s, Syria gradually regained control over some disputed areas along the Golan Heights, particularly around the Sea of Galilee. These territorial disputes were exacerbated by conflicts over water rights, including Israel’s attempts to use water from the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee for irrigation and drinking purposes.
From 1964 to 1966, Syria undertook a project to divert the Jordan River’s tributaries, which would have significantly impacted Israel’s water supply. This provoked intensified clashes, culminating in one of the key crises that led to the Six Day War.
The United Arab Republic (UAR) was officially formed on February 1, 1958, as an early step towards achieving broader pan-Arab unity between Syria and Egypt.
The initiative was first proposed to Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser by a group of influential political and military figures from Syria and saw the cementing of ties between the two countries, which would lead them to much failure in their battles against Israel.
Syria, with its strong pan-Arab sentiment, was a natural proponent of such a union. Nasser had become an iconic leader across the Arab world following his defiance of Western powers during the 1956 Suez Crisis, bolstering his popularity in Syria.
The Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party emerged as one of the most vocal advocates for this merger, reflecting the broader aspirations for Arab solidarity and unification.
Although the Syrian front was largely quiet for the first four days of the Six Day War, Syrian artillery began shelling northern Israel, and twelve Syrian jets attacked Israeli settlements in the Galilee.
Israel responded with military force, and by June 10, the IDF concluded its final military operation in the Golan Heights; a ceasefire agreement followed the next day.
As a result of the war in the North, Israel captured the Golan Heights, and an estimated 100,000 fled the region into Syria and neighboring Lebanon. The Golan Heights also provided Israel with an increased buffer zone against Syria.
The Assads
The Arab defeat in the Six Day War provoked a furious response inside Syria, with increased tensions between the civilian and military leadership over who was responsible for the loss of the Golan Heights.
In a 1970 coup d’etat in the country, Defense Minister Hafez Assad, an Alawite from Qardahah, ousted de facto strongman Salah Jadid and took power, beginning the rule of the Assad clan until its fall this weekend.
On October 6, 1973, Syria and Egypt responded to their humiliation of ‘67 by invading Israel on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – Yom Kippur. In a shock attack, Syrian forces invaded Israel and made territorial gains in the Golan Heights.
After three days, Israel had pushed most of the Syrians back to the Purple Line, the ceasefire line from the Six Day War. Israel then launched a counteroffensive into Syria, shelling the outskirts of Damascus with IDF troops stationed only 30 km. from the Syrian capital.
Syria lost some 3,000 troops in its third major war with Israel.
The US-brokered 1974 disengagement agreement, facilitated by former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, marked a significant moment in Syrian-Israeli relations. Syria recovered some lost territory, including Quneitra, as part of this agreement.
UN forces have monitored its implementation since. Kissinger also played a role in delivering a list of Israeli prisoners of war held by Syria, helping to pave the way for a prisoner exchange and troop disengagement in the northern theater.
In December 1981, the Knesset passed legislation applying Israeli law to the portion of the Golan Heights under its control. This move was met with international criticism, and the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution urging Israel to revoke the decision.
The following year, in 1982, Israel launched an invasion of southern Lebanon aimed at expelling the PLO. Syrian forces joined the conflict in support of Lebanon but faced significant defeats by Israeli forces. Despite this, Syria maintained its backing for Lebanese terror groups, a dynamic that persisted until the IDF’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
During the 1990s peace talks, Syria demanded that Israel withdraw to the pre-1967 borders. Despite these efforts, the territorial dispute over the Golan Heights persists.
Syria’s attempts to reclaim the Golan during the 1973 Yom Kippur War were unsuccessful, aside from recovering limited areas through the 1974 agreement, which required Syrian forces to pull back even further from their previous positions.
In June 2000, Hafez Assad died, and his son Bashar took the reins of power, formally taking the role of president in July of that year.
The younger Assad had no intentions or aspirations of improved relations with Israel. In 2006, Syria threatened to enter the Second Lebanon War on the side of Hezbollah, to which it continuously provided support, and allowed the Iranians to use Syria as a route to ship supplies to the Lebanese terror group.
This continued through 2024, as Israel has routed Hezbollah from southern Lebanon, attacked Iranian proxies in Syria, and dealt the Islamic Republic a blow by attacking its oil infrastructure.
Despite a lack of any ties, Israel did provide some assistance during the Syrian Civil War, which began when demonstrations began against Assad’s presidency in 2011 and then erupted into military campaigns, lasting well over a decade.
Humanitarian aid provided to Syrians became a focus of the Israelis, and in June 2016, the IDF began Operation Good Neighbor, a humanitarian relief operation to provide aid to Syrians who live along the border and provide basic or advanced medical treatment.
There have also been several small agreements to allow members of the Druze community who live in the Golan Heights to enter Israel and Syria for both business and familial reasons.
Israel will be watching the consequences of Assad’s fall closely. Not only has an enemy regime fallen, but observers will be keen to note how any replacement government, whether Islamist or not, deals with the Jewish State as its neighbor.
Iran’s role in Syria will have been severely undermined due to Assad’s fall, as will the provisions it can provide to Hezbollah through the country. Israeli politicians, meanwhile, have been using the regime change to signify an opportunity to create a new regional alliance, one that has never existed since Israel came into being in 1948.
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