File image.
Syrian security forces conducted on April 10 an operation in the town of Khan Arnabeh in the southern governorate of al-Qunitra, with later reports suggesting that a cell that attempted to shoot down an Israeli fighter jet was arrested.
Horan Free League, a local pro-government news blog, initially reported that the operation targeted “remnants of the former regime,” a term usually used to refer to the officers and soldiers who served in the ranks of the former Syrian military, intelligence and security forces.
Later, Nabd Syria, the Syrian Observers and other outlets revealed that the operation in fact targeted a cell that targeted an Israeli fighter jet with a man-portable air defense system just a few days earlier.
The fighter jet was reportedly targeted by the cell on its way back after carrying out strikes against Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.
Khan Arnabeh in the central countryside of al-Qunitra, right outside the buffer zone with the occupied Golan Heights, which was captured by the Israeli military right after the fall of the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad more than a year ago. The town is just 20 kilometers away from the border with Lebanon.
The Israeli military conducts operations near Khan Arnabeh on a regular basis, setting up checkpoints, and carrying out arrests.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, many resistance groups have emerged in southern Syria. While some were linked to Iran, like the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria, others were in fact supportive of the current Islamist-led government in the country, like the Movement to Deter the Occupation.
The attempts to shoot down the Israeli fighter jet came just before the United States and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire. The war saw both allies of the Islamic Republic and the Israeli military launching strikes against Syria more than once.
Also right before the ceasefire, there was a series of protests against Israel across Syria, including in al-Qunitra. The protests were, however, organized over the recently approved Israeli law allowing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, not in support of Iran. Notably, members of the country’s new military took part in the protests, and even went as far as threatening Israel.
The operation in Khan Arnabeh shows that despite failing to get an agreement with Israel, the Syrian government remains committed to preventing any threat towards the country from its territories. This situation will not likely change any time soon. However, it could eventually lead to a backlash in the south against the government, as Israel does not intend to withdraw and is in fact expanding operations little by little.
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another revolt of the serfs ? i expect influence changes regionally. how long will al jolani live. heaven will have the last word
there is a new sheriff in town in syria!
jolani is a nato bitch and will do what ever they say. he recently got his orders whilst he was in blighty meeting with another waste of time and space. syria once had a democratic president but now has a nato terrorist running the country. it will be interesting watching jolani fuck things up and lose control of the country for his homies. nevermind, there’s a cosy desk job at spook central waiting for him when his time is done.