(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Udi Dekel - Israel has chosen to accept that Assad is the winner of the civil war and hope that Russian influence in Syria will take precedence over that of Iran. However, the Assad regime's seizure of control of southern Syria and the Golan Heights will result in the perpetuation of a foreign Shiite presence in the south, whether camouflaged within the Syrian army and within Syrian militias, or as ostensibly local Shiite militias directed by Iran. Israel must continue to demonstrate resolve in preventing the construction of an Iranian military infrastructure in Syria, with an emphasis on capabilities that threaten it, and retain its ability to harm the Assad regime if it deviates from the understandings and rules of the game that are established. Brig.-Gen. (res.) Udi Dekel is managing director of INSS.
2018-07-10 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive