Analyst says Israel escalating in southern Syria to disrupt political transition
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Israel’s recent military escalation in southern Syria is aimed at disrupting the country’s internal political transition and capitalizing on shifting regional dynamics, as Damascus seeks to rebuild state institutions and restore its regional role, an analyst on Tuesday said.
International relations expert Ashraf Aka told North Press that Syria is entering “a new phase” marked by efforts to restore state institutions and reestablish the country’s position within the Arab world.
“There is a new reality taking shape in Syria, with a national effort to rebuild the state and return it to its place and its Arab axis,” he said, arguing that Israel is attempting to derail that process through military escalation in southern Syria.
Aka also said Israel is seeking to provoke Turkey, as an emerging regional alignment appears increasingly willing to challenge Israeli policies in the region.
The Ramallah-based analyst argued that Israel’s repeated declarations that it intends to maintain a military presence inside the buffer zone in Syrian territory demonstrate an effort to impose “a new reality” that threatens Syria’s territorial unity.
He said Israel is also seeking to fuel sectarian tensions while taking advantage of Syria’s current circumstances and broader regional developments linked to the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.
According to Aka, Israel increasingly views itself as being outside the new regional balance of power that has emerged following recent conflicts, particularly amid what he described as Washington’s and Tel Aviv’s inability to fully impose their vision for the region.
“This is pushing Israel to exploit the Syrian arena to strengthen its presence in the buffer zone, continue military escalation, and provoke regional powers, foremost among them Turkey,” he said.
Aka added that Israel is also working to keep multiple regional flashpoints active, including southern Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and the occupied West Bank. He linked this strategy to what he described as Israel’s setbacks in Lebanon, as well as domestic political and electoral considerations.