Israel News
Israel Warns of Rising Threats From Syria as Golan Officials Urge Stronger Defense
Defense Minister Israel Katz tells lawmakers that forces inside Syria are “thinking of launching a ground invasion,” as local leaders call for urgent reinforcement of the northern front
Netanyahu and Katz on the Syrian border (Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO)
Israel is facing growing threats from Syrian territory, Defense Minister Israel Katz told a closed session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday, warning that Israel is “far from” the possibility of any peace arrangement with Syria.
According to Katz, forces operating inside Syria “are thinking of launching a ground invasion into Golan communities,” and among them are the Houthis. He said such scenarios are part of the IDF’s current planning for protecting the northern border.
Katz also addressed the situation of the Druze community in Syria. He said Israel is protecting them and noted: “The IDF already has a prepared plan, and if raids on the Druze Mountain happen again, we will intervene — including blocking the border.”
Local officials in the Golan Uri Kelner and Yehuda Doya said in response to the briefing “The IDF must continue and deepen its hold in the buffer zone and on the Chermon area, establish deterrence, and ensure an immediate response to any scenario.”. They added that “we must strengthen and reinforce civil defense in Katzrin, in the Golan communities, and across the region — increase training, add weapons and ammunition, and expand the operational capability of the local defense units.”
Local officials also warned that more than 2,500 homes in Katzrin and the Golan communities remain unfortified and urged the government to allocate immediate funding. “The security of Katzrin and the Golan is the security of the entire country,” they said.
The two officials emphasized a potential strategic opportunity with Syria’s Druze. “Building an alliance with the Druze in Syria could become a strategic lever for defending our northern border and stabilizing the region… and we must not miss this opportunity.”
It was also reported last night that Hamas, alongside Palestinian Islamic Jihad, views Syria as a convenient arena for expanding its activity, with officials under Ahmad al-Shar’a allowing the groups to encamp themselves while ignoring their operations.
In parallel, a Syrian security official cited by Kan News said Syria has no intention of allowing attacks on Israel from its territory. “If there are things that bother Israel regarding the Palestinian organizations, then Israel should update the Syrian side and it will be handled,” he said, adding that any launch toward Israel “harms the Syrian state, which is trying to rebuild.”
