Rebels’ advances in Syria spell short-term benefits, potential trouble for Israel, intel chiefs said to tell PM

Israel is watching the jihadist rebels’ advances in Syria with considerable wariness, with intelligence chiefs telling the political echelon developments in Syria could ultimately spell trouble for Israel, Channel 12 reports.

Referring to a consultation hurriedly convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday evening with key figures in the defense establishment, the TV report quotes intelligence officials assessing that “Iranian infrastructure in Syria has been harmed, and much of it has been captured by the rebels.”

Netanyahu was reportedly told that Hezbollah’s attention will now be shifted to Syria, and “so will its forces, in order to defend the Assad regime.”

This, in turn, will bolster the likelihood of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire holding, the prime minister was reportedly told.

As regards Syrian territory itself, where the IDF has been working to prevent the transfer of weaponry to Hezbollah and to thwart direct threats from pro-Iranian forces, Israel’s “freedom of military operation will apparently widen.”

The intelligence chiefs reportedly noted that “the latest developments appear to be positive.” But, they are said to have warned, “the collapse of the Assad regime would likely create chaos in which military threats against Israel would develop.”

Channel 12 further reports that concerns were raised at Friday’s security consultation that “strategic capabilities” of the Assad regime could fall into the jihadists’ hands. The prime concern relates to “the remnants of chemical weapons,” the report says.

The IDF is said to be preparing for a scenario where Israel would be required to act, the report says without elaboration.

There is also an assessment that Syria might open its gates to a significant number of Iranian forces in order to try to stabilize the country, the report says.