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Israel Escalates Its 'War Between Wars' Campaign

An Israeli tank in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights (File photo: Reuters)
An Israeli tank in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights (File photo: Reuters)
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Israel Escalates Its 'War Between Wars' Campaign

An Israeli tank in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights (File photo: Reuters)
An Israeli tank in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights (File photo: Reuters)

Israel is escalating its “war between wars” campaign by demanding the removal of Lebanese Hezbollah, along with all Iranian militias from Syria.

As a result, Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets in several areas in southern Syria warning the regime forces against its collaboration with Hezbollah and Iranian militias.

The leaflet also threatened the commander of the Syrian army’s 112th Brigade, Basil Abu Eid, residing in Quneitra, with assassination.

Addressing Abu Eid, the leaflet said that despite prior warnings, he was still allowing Hezbollah forces to operate in the area under his command.

“Hezbollah has brought destruction and instability to the region. You personally and the army, in general, will pay the price. Now is the time for Hezbollah to leave Syria. Now is the time for Hezbollah to leave the 112th Brigade,” read the leaflet.

Earlier, Israel reportedly attacked sites of the regime and pro-Iranian forces but deliberately avoided Hezbollah’s locations.

Israeli sources considered it an escalation in Israeli goals and demands.

Tel Aviv is no longer satisfied with just removing Iran and its militias from Syria as it now wants Hezbollah out of the country as well. It is also threatening the regime’s army of increased operations.

Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, announced in a meeting with Northern Brigade leaders that the army executed over 50 attacks and many covert operations in 2020, forcing Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to evacuate many of its bases in Syria and withdraw some of its militias.

Kochavi revealed that Iranian bases, camps, and headquarters have been evacuated from the Damascus area as part of a campaign to move them to northeastern Syria.

Within the framework of Tel Aviv’s “war between wars” military activities, the frequency, and quality of Israeli operations have increased in Syria, and so did the range of covert activities.

The Iranian repositioning in Syria slowed down over the past two years as a result of the Israeli activities, announced Kochavi.

The number of Iranian activists in Syria and affiliated militias has also decreased significantly.

A senior Israeli official indicated in a press briefing that President Bashar al-Assad realized that the Iranian presence complicates the situation and contributes to the Turkish expansion in the north.

Assad doesn’t dare to speak with the “rude officials” in Tehran, who insist on using his country as part of their goals to control the region, according to the official.

Iran evacuated some of its sites, however, it kept Hezbollah in its locations. Tel Aviv is trying to prevent that because the party wants to use southern Syria as another front for its war against Israel.

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As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
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As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)

Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city on Saturday, three military sources told Reuters, as the groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo.
The opposition fighters, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, carried out a surprise sweep through government-held towns this week and reached Aleppo nearly a decade after having been forced out by Assad and his allies.
Russia, one of Assad's key allies, has promised Damascus extra military aid to thwart the opposition, two military sources said, adding new hardware would start arriving in the next 72 hours.
The Syrian army has been told to follow "safe withdrawal" orders from the main areas of the city that the opposition have entered, three army sources said.
The fighters began their incursion on Wednesday and by late Friday an operations room representing the offensive said they were sweeping through various neighbourhoods of Aleppo.
They are returning to the city for the first time since 2016, when Assad and his allies Russia, Iran, and regional Shi'ite militias retook it, with the insurgents agreeing to withdraw after months of bombardment and siege.
Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza opposition brigade, said their speedy advance this week had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower in the broader Aleppo province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East.
The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air force on areas in opposition-held Idlib, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army.
Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkiye, which supports the opposition, had given a green light to the offensive.
But Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said on Friday that Turkiye sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements.
The attack is the biggest since March 2020, when Russia and Turkiye agreed to a deal to de-escalate the conflict.
CIVILIANS KILLED IN FIGHTING
On Friday, Syrian state television denied opposition had reached the city and said Russia was providing Syria's military with air support.
The Syrian military said it was fighting back against the attack and had inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib.
David Carden, UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, said: "We're deeply alarmed by the situation unfolding in northwest Syria."
"Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as 8 years old."
Syrian state news agency SANA said four civilians including two students were killed on Friday in Aleppo by insurgent shelling of university student dormitories. It was not clear if they were among the 27 dead reported by the UN official.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
"We are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," he said.