Israel requests Syrian regime forces to police border

Israel is working to ensure that any last solution to the Syrian conflict takes its interests into account.

In this regard, Israel’s Maariv new site reported today that Israel has sent messages via non-Syrian parties involved in the talks on Syria’s future, in which it said it would be willing to reduce its interference in Syria.

This involves reducing the raids it launches in Syrian territories under the pretext of preventing the transfer of advanced weaponry to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. It will do so in exchange for a settlement or silent understandings stipulating the prohibition of Iran, Hezbollah and other Shia militias from getting within a specific distance of the ceasefire line in occupied Golan Heights.

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The newspaper also added that Israel would agree to allow the return of Al-Assad’s forces to the border area in accordance with the Israel-Syria Separation of Forces Agreement signed in 1974. The Syrian regime forces maintained peace on this line in the Golan Heights for ten years and prevented any attacks on Israel.

Maariv also reported that there are fears amongst Israel’s political and military leaderships that a settlement reached keeping Al-Assad in power would drive Iran to deploy troops loyal to it in areas near the occupied Golan Heights.