Hezbollah,
Iran-Backed Forces Won't Take Part in South Syria Assault – Source
©
AP Photo / Syrian Central Military Media
MILITARY &
INTELLIGENCE
15:25
01.06.2018(updated 16:35 01.06.2018) Get short URL
Suliman Mulhem
Ahead
of a major offensive in southern Syria, troops from the Syrian Army and other
government forces have been redeployed to the Deraa Governorate. Tel Aviv has
expressed concerns over the potential involvement of Iran-backed militias in
the assault due to the province’s proximity to Israeli-occupied territory.
Speaking
on the condition of anonymity, an informed Syrian military source told Sputnik
reporter Suliman Mulhem today that “Hezbollah resistance fighters and other
Iran-backed foreign militias” will play no role in the Syrian Army’s upcoming
offensive in the area, seemingly corroborating earlier reports of an agreement
between Russia and Israel on the matter.
The
source was however unable to confirm if the absence of the aforementioned
militias from the coalition of government forces which will take part in the
imminent south Syria offensive is due to external pressure from Israel and a
formal agreement, though this does seem likely.
The Israeli
Defense Forces (IDF) have mounted several attacks against Syria in recent
months, claiming to have targeted facilities used by Iran-backed forces.
Damascus has
denied these claims and has repeatedly condemned Israel’s strikes on Syrian
soil as flagrant violations of the Arab Republic’s sovereignty.
Although the
Syrian Army does already have a sizeable presence in the Deraa Governorate,
including the provincial capital, its upcoming offensive will aim to liberate
the entirety of southern Syria, including territory near the Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights.
The prospect of
hostile forces – either military personnel from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) or sponsored militias – has alarmed Israel. Russia has
attempted to address Tel Aviv’s concerns before the assault gets underway, to
minimize the risk of direct Israeli military intervention in southern Syria
against the Syrian Army and the wider coalition of allied government forces.
An Israeli
soldier stands next to signs pointing out distances to different cities, on
Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that
overlooks the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing, Israel May 10, 2018
© REUTERS /
RONEN ZVULUN
Israel's Defense
Minister to Discuss Iran's "Entrenchment" in Syria During Russia
Visit
Iran's
involvement in Syria has long troubled Israel, as Tel Aviv fears Tehran is
looking to entrench its forces there and could potentially use Syria as a
platform to launch attacks against targets in Israel.
Israeli PM
Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to prevent Iran from maintaining a permanent
military presence in Syria and has warned that the IDF will conduct additional
airstrikes unless Iranian troops leave the Arab Republic.
Damascus has
refuted the presence of "thousands" of Iranian military personnel in
Syria, insisting there are only a limited number of IRGC advisors embedded in
the Syrian Army.
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