The IDF announced last night the conclusion of the strategic phase of Operation "Arrow of Bashan" in under 72 hours. Despite this, control over the buffer zone and key positions along the Syrian border remains ongoing. The goal of these maneuvers is to prevent the rebels' empowerment – by confiscating weapons and military equipment and denying their proximity to the Israeli border, which could endanger Israeli communities and IDF forces.
The operation's significance cannot be overstated. The destruction of such a large percentage of an advanced military force like the Syrian army is an event unparalleled globally for decades.
As with all major IDF operations, this impressive achievement rests on three pillars:
1. Unprecedented coordination
For the first time during the war, there was complete consensus between the Chief of Staff, senior military leaders, the Prime Minister, and other members of the political echelon. Israel had long anticipated the collapse of Assad's regime but underestimated the speed of events. Despite the surprise, Israel was the first to act. While Iran hesitated, the IDF recommended airstrikes and entering the buffer zone, effectively convincing a receptive cabinet. Plans from Military Intelligence, the Operations Directorate, the Air Force, and the Navy were swiftly prepared over the weekend, presented to commanders and policymakers, approved, and implemented.
2. Targeting strategic weaponry and military assets
Within the first 24 hours, air defense systems and numerous fighter jets were neutralized. This allowed 350 Israeli Air Force fighter jets to operate without interference in Syrian airspace, targeting 320 strategic objectives.
The targets were prioritized by their importance. Missile boats launched numerous simultaneous strikes on two Syrian naval bases – Al-Bayda and Latakia – causing significant damage and destroying 15 vessels. These vessels carried sea-to-sea missiles with ranges of 80–190 kilometers and explosive payloads of dozens of kilograms each. Anti-aircraft batteries, Syrian Air Force bases, and dozens of manufacturing facilities in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra were also struck. These facilities housed Scud missiles, cruise missiles, coastal defense missiles, surface-to-air missiles, drones, fighter jets, combat helicopters, radar systems, tanks, hangars, and more.
These strikes followed years of intelligence gathering by the IDF, and the execution was described as flawless. The Defense Ministry estimates that 70-80% of the Syrian army's strategic capabilities have been destroyed.
3. Iran's diminished role
For years, Syria served as Iran's primary base for stockpiling weapons, training countless jihadist forces, and distributing armaments across the Middle East with Assad's cooperation. Exploiting the power vacuum in Syria and Iran's lack of response to Assad's downfall, the IDF has significantly undermined Iran's foothold in the region. The scope and ambiguity of the strikes have deterred Iran from retaliating.
What Comes Next?
The buffer zone and key positions captured by the IDF will remain under Israeli control for the foreseeable future due to tactical considerations. How long this situation will persist is uncertain – weeks, months, or even years. Residents of the Golan Heights are calling for the border fence to be relocated to the far edge of the buffer zone.
On the other side are the rebels, who, despite their attempts to project a "clean" image to the West, are unequivocally jihadist in nature. Once they are done with Damascus, their sights will turn to Al-Aqsa, following the same path as their Sunni Islamist counterparts in Hamas. It is no coincidence that the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa, is nicknamed "al-Julani," a reference to his connection to the Golan Heights. Someone bearing such a name will not relinquish the area without a fight.
