For the first time since 1973, since the October War, Israeli ground forces have made an open crossing into the territory of Syria, crossing the demilitarized zone on the border between the two countries. About this informs The New York Times.
Israel decided to take this step against the background of the successes of the Syrian rebels, who were able to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Such events cause concern in neighboring states due to possible destabilization in the region. The Israeli military has taken control of the top of Mount Hermon, located on the Syrian side of the border, as well as several key strategic positions that are considered important for stabilizing the situation in the region.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi confirmed Saturday evening that troops had crossed the border of the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights. He stated that “Israel has deployed troops on Syrian territory”, but refrained from revealing the details of the operation.
Recently, the Israeli military has become more open about strikes in Syria, saying they are aimed at Hezbollah’s supply routes. However, the deployment of ground troops outside the demilitarized zone in Syria is a significant shift in Israeli policy, the first since the 1973 ceasefire agreement that officially ended the last war between Israel and Syria.
