Russia Transfers Syrian Facilities to Israel
Russia has transferred control of two sites in the Syrian province of Daraa, bordering the buffer zone in the Golan Heights, to the Israel Defense Forces, Al Arabiya reports . As the TV channel specifies, one of the sites is an observation observatory on Mount Tel Al-Hara. It is noted that after the occupation and expansion of the buffer zone in southern Syria, a curfew was imposed on residents of five nearby settlements. As the IDF representative explained, this measure is necessary to maintain the security of both Israelis and Syrians.
Earlier, the IDF occupied Mount Hermon from the Syrian side after the Syrian government army withdrew from the area. The first reports that Israeli tank units began moving into the buffer border zone near the city of Quneitra appeared on the night of Sunday, December 8. As the New York Times specifies , the reason for these actions by Israel was the fear that the rebel groups that overthrew Bashar al-Assad could seize military facilities near the Golan Heights and use them against Israel.
The IDF has stated that it will not interfere in the events in Syria, but will do everything possible to ensure the safety of the citizens of the Jewish state. The Israeli military has also warned the forces that have seized power in Syria that their attempts to intrude into the buffer zone on the border with Israel will be considered a threat, and that the Israeli military will respond promptly.
Recall that on December 8, Syrian rebel forces, together with Islamist groups, took control of Damascus, and President Bashar al-Assad was forced to leave Syria and, according to media reports , received asylum in Russia along with members of his family. “Russia, based on humanitarian considerations, granted them asylum,” a source in the Kremlin told RIA Novosti.