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Israelis watch intently as Syrian rebel forces approach Golan Heights border Israelis watch intently as Syrian rebel forces approach Golan Heights border
(5 days later)
The top of Mount Hermon bristles with the golfball antennae, surveillance masts and bunkers that make up Israel’s northernmost intelligence base. Damascus is a blur in the distance, but the villages on the edge of the Golan Heights are easily visible below, deceptively peaceful in the afternoon sun.The top of Mount Hermon bristles with the golfball antennae, surveillance masts and bunkers that make up Israel’s northernmost intelligence base. Damascus is a blur in the distance, but the villages on the edge of the Golan Heights are easily visible below, deceptively peaceful in the afternoon sun.
Perched on the windswept 6,500 ft peak, the Israeli army has a bird’s eye view of what is happening as Syria disintegrates. Hadr, a pro-regime Druze village, fell to rebel fighters on Wednesday. Nearby Jubata al-Khashab is held by loyalist forces. Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaida, is advancing.Perched on the windswept 6,500 ft peak, the Israeli army has a bird’s eye view of what is happening as Syria disintegrates. Hadr, a pro-regime Druze village, fell to rebel fighters on Wednesday. Nearby Jubata al-Khashab is held by loyalist forces. Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaida, is advancing.
On the Syrian and Lebanese sides of the border, this eyrie is known as Jebel al-Sheikh. It saw fierce fighting in the 1973 war but for 40 years watched over a quiet front, the peace maintained by Hafez al-Assad. In recent weeks, however, signs have multiplied that the end may be approaching for his son Bashar.On the Syrian and Lebanese sides of the border, this eyrie is known as Jebel al-Sheikh. It saw fierce fighting in the 1973 war but for 40 years watched over a quiet front, the peace maintained by Hafez al-Assad. In recent weeks, however, signs have multiplied that the end may be approaching for his son Bashar.
“Syria is dead,” Moshe Yaalon, Israel’s defence minister, declared last week. “Assad is paid to be president but he only runs a quarter of the country. He can stay in his palace but he’s no longer relevant. He’s on the way out.”“Syria is dead,” Moshe Yaalon, Israel’s defence minister, declared last week. “Assad is paid to be president but he only runs a quarter of the country. He can stay in his palace but he’s no longer relevant. He’s on the way out.”
Syria’s Druze community – around 5% of the population – has been split between supporters and opponents of Assad but has largely managed to stay out of the war. Now they have been targeted by Nusra and Islamic State (Isis). That has alarmed their co-religionists in Lebanon, on the Israeli-occupied Golan – and in Israel proper, where, unlike Arab citizens, the minority serve in the armed forces. Syria’s Druze community – around 5% of the population – has been split between supporters and opponents of Assad but has largely managed to stay out of the war. Now they have been targeted by Nusra and Islamic State (Isis). That has alarmed their co-religionists in Lebanon, on the Israeli-occupied Golan – and in Israel proper, where, unlike most Arab citizens, many members of the Druze minority serve in the armed forces.
Israeli Druze have demonstrated outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, demanding action to save their brethren, but to no avail. “Many in southern Syria expect Israel to do something to keep the knives of Isis away from the throats of the Druze,” said a supporter, Mordechai Kedar, recalling the fate of the Yazidis in Iraq. Still, the army did send messages to Nusra, via the mainstream Free Syrian Army (FSA), warning the Islamist group not to harm Syria’s Druze.Israeli Druze have demonstrated outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, demanding action to save their brethren, but to no avail. “Many in southern Syria expect Israel to do something to keep the knives of Isis away from the throats of the Druze,” said a supporter, Mordechai Kedar, recalling the fate of the Yazidis in Iraq. Still, the army did send messages to Nusra, via the mainstream Free Syrian Army (FSA), warning the Islamist group not to harm Syria’s Druze.
Publicly, Israel insists it is sticking to its policy of staying out of the conflict next door. But that is not the whole story. Ehud Yaari, a well-connected Middle East analyst, wrote last October that some rebel groups were maintaining “constant contact with the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces) though they had only been given a modest amount of weapons. UN reports have described Israeli troops handing boxes to armed Syrians.Publicly, Israel insists it is sticking to its policy of staying out of the conflict next door. But that is not the whole story. Ehud Yaari, a well-connected Middle East analyst, wrote last October that some rebel groups were maintaining “constant contact with the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces) though they had only been given a modest amount of weapons. UN reports have described Israeli troops handing boxes to armed Syrians.
Evidence of links to anti-Assad groups – including Nusra – meets official silence. In one intriguing case, subject to censorship and a legal gag order, a Druze activist from the Golan and a serving IDF Druze soldier reportedly learned of and filmed a covert meeting between Israeli intelligence officers and Syrian rebels.Evidence of links to anti-Assad groups – including Nusra – meets official silence. In one intriguing case, subject to censorship and a legal gag order, a Druze activist from the Golan and a serving IDF Druze soldier reportedly learned of and filmed a covert meeting between Israeli intelligence officers and Syrian rebels.
Exactly what Israel’s “eyes and ears” can glean about its neighbour from Mount Hermon is a closely guarded military secret. But the implosion of Syria has brought new challenges. “In terms of knowing the enemy we used to need to know the name of the Syrian president and chief of staff,” Yaalon observed. “Now we need to know the leaders of every single militia.”Exactly what Israel’s “eyes and ears” can glean about its neighbour from Mount Hermon is a closely guarded military secret. But the implosion of Syria has brought new challenges. “In terms of knowing the enemy we used to need to know the name of the Syrian president and chief of staff,” Yaalon observed. “Now we need to know the leaders of every single militia.”
Three years ago, Israel looked at the war in Syria as part of what it called an “Islamist winter” – scorning the naivety of those who hailed the dawn of freedom and democracy in the Arab spring. Maintaining its own red lines has meant repeated air strikes on weapons transfers to Hezbollah, Assad’s loyal Lebanese ally, and swift responses to rare cases of cross-border firing. In January it targeted a Hezbollah unit and also killed an Iranian revolutionary guard general.Three years ago, Israel looked at the war in Syria as part of what it called an “Islamist winter” – scorning the naivety of those who hailed the dawn of freedom and democracy in the Arab spring. Maintaining its own red lines has meant repeated air strikes on weapons transfers to Hezbollah, Assad’s loyal Lebanese ally, and swift responses to rare cases of cross-border firing. In January it targeted a Hezbollah unit and also killed an Iranian revolutionary guard general.
The most visible non-lethal aspect of what Israel is doing is treating wounded Syrians, both fighters and civilians, including women and children, who have been allowed to cross the Golan border – 1600 since February 2013.The most visible non-lethal aspect of what Israel is doing is treating wounded Syrians, both fighters and civilians, including women and children, who have been allowed to cross the Golan border – 1600 since February 2013.
“We didn’t want anyone to think that we were part of the conflict in Syria,” explained Dr Salman Zarka, the Druze director of the Ziv medical centre in Safed in Galilee. “We thought it would all be over in a few months, that Assad would leave the county and everything would be better. As a people we understood the meaning of not providing support when somebody needs it.”“We didn’t want anyone to think that we were part of the conflict in Syria,” explained Dr Salman Zarka, the Druze director of the Ziv medical centre in Safed in Galilee. “We thought it would all be over in a few months, that Assad would leave the county and everything would be better. As a people we understood the meaning of not providing support when somebody needs it.”
Samir is an FSA fighter who was wounded by a bomb dropped from a Syrian army helicopter in Beit Jann near Quneitra, south-east of Mount Hermon. Now recovering in a Ziv orthopaedic ward with three other injured Syrians, he had feared he would not get good medical care in Israel but is grateful that he did. He hopes to cross back across the border soon to carry on fighting the regime. “A lot of my friends were here before me,” Samir said. “Assad knows that we are here.”Samir is an FSA fighter who was wounded by a bomb dropped from a Syrian army helicopter in Beit Jann near Quneitra, south-east of Mount Hermon. Now recovering in a Ziv orthopaedic ward with three other injured Syrians, he had feared he would not get good medical care in Israel but is grateful that he did. He hopes to cross back across the border soon to carry on fighting the regime. “A lot of my friends were here before me,” Samir said. “Assad knows that we are here.”
• This article was amended on 23 June 2015 to clarify a reference to Arabs serving in the Israeli army.