Kathrine Frich
Fresh intelligence warnings from Israel are fuelling concern over the stability of Syria’s new leadership.
Regional tensions are again rising, even as quiet diplomatic contacts are said to be under way.
Israeli officials claim the threat goes beyond rhetoric and reflects an immediate security risk.
Intelligence warning
Iran is working with hostile actors to assassinate Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Israeli military sources have warned, according to reporting by the Jerusalem Post.
The sources say intelligence assessments indicate Sharaa faces credible threats, forcing him to devote significant effort to personal security and regime stabilization.
The warning comes amid recent contacts between Israel and Syria, adding to concerns that regional rivalries are intensifying rather than easing.
October 7 lessons
Israeli defence institutions say the intelligence must be viewed in light of lessons learned from the October 7 attacks.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli officials argue these lessons justify maintaining Israel Defense Forces presence on Syrian territory.
That presence is described by the security establishment as a “primary shield” for Israeli communities along the Syrian border.
No withdrawal stance
Israeli outlet Walla reported that several high-level discussions have taken place in recent months under Defence Minister Israel Katz.
Senior defence and military officials took part in the talks, which focused on Israel’s posture in Syria.
At their conclusion, defence institutions agreed there should be no withdrawal from Syrian territory or from the Mount Hermon region, according to Walla.
A senior IDF source told the outlet that top army officials backed Katz’s position.
Three operational zones
Israeli government policy divides IDF activity in Syria into three operational areas, according to IDF sources cited in the report.
The first is the line-of-contact security zone along the international Israeli-Syrian border, where troops operate to protect nearby Israeli communities and the country’s interior.
The second area extends roughly 15 kilometres into Syrian territory and includes villages, towns and transport routes.
In this zone, the IDF seeks to block the entry and entrenchment of militants and terrorist infrastructure.
Zone of influence
The third area is described as a zone of influence stretching from southern Sweida to the outskirts of Damascus.
This zone is treated as demilitarised, with Israel monitoring developments to prevent hostile elements from entering, advanced weapons from being introduced, or military bases from being established.
Israeli officials say the alleged Iranian plot against Sharaa reinforces the need for continued vigilance across all three zones.
Sources: Jerusalem Post, Walla, Digi24
