Walla: Israel is preparing for an attack scenario from Syria

The Israeli Walla news website reported quoting that the Israeli army is preparing for the possibility of a surprise attack from the Syrian front, which could be similar in style and impact to the Hamas attack that occurred on October 7, 2023.

According to the report, concerns center on the infiltration of “jihadist” elements and militants from Bedouin tribes across the Syrian border, with the aim of targeting residential areas near the Golan Heights.

While Israel continues its military operations in the Gaza Strip, particularly around Deir al Balah, the security establishment is turning its attention to the northern border, amid reports of potential infiltration attempts from the Syrian side.

According to a senior Israeli officer who spoke to the website, Israel’s defense strategy has changed, with the focus no longer limited to the border line, but now extending to Syria’s interior.

The senior Israeli officer added, “We’ve set up barriers to prevent vehicles from passing, and we are even prepared for the possibility of infiltration using automated parachutes”.

The report also indicated that the army doesn’t rule out a repeat of the pattern of armed attacks that occurred during the Syrian war, when armed groups attacked state institutions using small trucks.

This comes in the context of talk about an Iranian infrastructure that may be active in the buffer zone in the Golan Heights with the aim of carrying out operations against Israeli forces.

In light of these concerns, Israeli intelligence units, particularly the Intelligence Directorate and Special Operations Unit (504), have intensified their activity in Syrian villages near the border.

The report stated that a number of arrests were carried out inside Syrian territory, some of which were announced in the media.

A senior Northern Command officer confirmed that these operations contributed to developing a clearer intelligence picture of the nature of potential threats and the organizational structure of enemy groups in the region.

The report also noted that the Northern Command’s 210th Division, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and special intervention units formed during the last war, conducted intensive field training to simulate scenarios of a ground incursion or attempts to seize control of Israeli population centers near the border.

The Israeli military source added, “We’ve prepared integrated defensive lines, including eastern barriers, walls, trenches, and even a defensive missile system… We’ve reserve forces stationed in the rear, ready for any infiltration attempt, even if it’s by mechanized parachute”.

These measures indicate growing concern in Israel about the possibility of the confrontation expanding to the northern front, given the increased Iranian military activity inside Syria and the security vacuum in some border areas.

This comes at a time of heightened tension in the region, as Israel seeks to prevent any security breach or a recurrence of surprise attacks like those witnessed last October.