Israel’s war to erase Syria

Israel’s War to Erase Syria

On Tuesday, a stark announcement reverberated across Tel Aviv. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, addressing a group of advocates, declared: “The fighting will not end until hundreds of thousands of Gazans leave… and Syria is partitioned.” His remarks, disseminated widely on social media, laid bare the stark reality. Israel’s conflicts are not merely about “security” or “terrorism.” They are about reshaping the region’s borders, dismantling identities, and rewriting history.

Earlier in April, Israeli warplanes once again pierced Syrian skies, launching a cascade of missiles at military installations and civilian areas. The strikes spanned from central airfields to the distant south, where Israeli troops advanced near Nawa, claiming the lives of nine civilians. The official Israeli rationale framed these actions as “defence” and “pre-emption,” yet the underlying intent was more profound—an assault on collective memory.

Memory Under Fire

Nawa, targeted in these attacks, is not just a city. It is the cradle of Imam al-Nawawi, a scholar whose influence transcended centuries and continents. He memorized the Quran, forsaking the clamor of commerce for the stillness of study. His legacy endures in homes, schools, and mosques from Cairo to Kuala Lumpur. Bombing Nawa, then, is more than destruction—it is an attack on a lineage of wisdom.

Not far from Nawa, Tell al-Jabiyah rises, a site where Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab once stood, having traveled from Madinah to claim the keys of Jerusalem. There, in the ancient hill, he met his commanders as the historic handover approached. The soil of Houran still holds their footsteps. This land is sacred, not only through faith but through the weight of historical significance.

Further south and east, the birthplaces of other revered minds lie hidden. Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, a towering jurist and theologian, emerged from Izraa in Daraa. Ibn Kathir, the celebrated historian of Al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya, was born in Majdal near Bosra. Houran, this region, has long been a bastion of scholarship, nurturing a civilization that defied borders, sects, and empires.

By the banks of the Yarmouk River, another pivotal moment unfolded. In 636 AD, Khalid ibn al-Walid led Muslim forces to a decisive triumph over the Byzantines, toppling imperial rule and ushering in a new era. To strike this land is not only to breach sovereignty—it is to challenge the very fabric of Arab and Islamic continuity.

A New Campaign in Syria

Since the Assad regime’s collapse on December 8, 2024, Israel has intensified its operations on Syrian soil. Hundreds of air strikes have reduced military facilities, air defense systems, and arms stores to rubble. The stated reason? Distrust of the new transitional government. Yet, the scale and timing of these assaults reveal a deeper agenda.

Just one day after Assad’s departure to Moscow, Israeli leaders outlined plans for a “sterile security zone” within Syria, spanning over 400 square kilometers—a territory larger than the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have now established positions along the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, openly defying international law. Initially, officials hinted at a temporary occupation, but they have since abandoned that pretense.

“We will remain,” proclaimed Defence Minister Israel Katz, standing atop the mountain. “We will ensure the southern zone is demilitarised, and we will not tolerate threats to the Druze community.”

This declaration marks the start of a calculated narrative. Israel invokes minority protection to justify its incursion, yet history exposes the emptiness of such claims. The Druze in Palestine, long enlisted in the Israeli military, have fought for the state they once hoped would recognize them as equals. These are the Druze of the Galilee, formally Israeli citizens, who answered the call to service—only to discover they were treated as second-class citizens in their own land.