Sun Dec 08 16:13:56 UTC 2024: ## Israel Declares Assad’s Overthrow a “Historic Day,” Seizes Opportunity Amidst Syrian Civil War’s Dramatic Turn

**Golan Heights, [Date]** – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today hailed the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a “historic day” in the Middle East, declaring the fall of a key component of Iran’s influence. Speaking from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Netanyahu attributed Assad’s downfall to a series of Israeli military strikes targeting Iranian and Iranian-backed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hamas, and Hezbollah. He claimed these actions triggered a chain reaction culminating in the rebels’ swift victory.

The lightning offensive by Islamist-led Syrian rebels, which began on November 27th, dramatically ended a years-long stalemate in the Syrian civil war. The offensive followed a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, reached on the same day, after nearly a year of escalating hostilities. Israel’s military actions included a major air strike in September that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.

Netanyahu stated that while the shift presents significant opportunities for Israel, it also involves risks. He announced a “good neighbor policy,” extending a hand of peace to Druze, Kurds, Christians, and Muslims in Syria who desire peaceful coexistence with Israel. However, he also emphasized the Israeli military’s heightened vigilance, ordering the establishment of a demilitarized buffer zone along the Syrian border to ensure security. Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this sentiment, declaring that Iran’s “tentacles are being severed one by one.”

Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria since 2011, primarily targeting the Syrian army and Iranian-backed groups. While rarely commenting on specific operations, Israel has consistently maintained its commitment to preventing Iran from expanding its presence in Syria. The Assad regime had been heavily supported by Iran, Hezbollah, and, since 2015, the Russian military.

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