Iran's Military Support to Syria Amid Rebel Advances

Iran is significantly ramping up its military support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his ongoing battle against jihadist-led rebels. A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that Tehran is likely to send additional military equipment, including missiles and drones, to Syria, while also increasing the number of its military advisers stationed in the country. Tehran's involvement goes beyond military support, as it continues to provide vital intelligence and satellite assistance to Assad’s forces, helping the Syrian regime counter the growing rebel threat.

Rebels Seize Key Territories in Northern Syria

In a major development, Syrian rebel forces have gained full control of the northern countryside of Homs, the country’s third-largest city, marking another significant advance in the ongoing civil war. Despite heavy shelling by Assad's forces on critical infrastructure like the Rastan Bridge, the rebels faced minimal resistance and quickly seized the towns of Talbiseh and Rastan, within Homs province. The city of Aleppo also fell into rebel hands after intense clashes, and the advances continue to place more pressure on Assad's forces.

Local media reports indicated that rebels have pushed deeper into southern Syria, including areas close to the Israeli border. The capture of these areas, along with the increasing presence of rebel factions in Daraa, a key city near both Jordan and Israel, has raised alarms about the future stability of Assad’s regime.

Turkey’s Support for Syrian Rebels and Israeli Concerns

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that Syrian rebels would continue their advances against Assad’s forces. Erdogan also mentioned his continued efforts to normalize ties with Assad, though the Syrian president has not yet responded positively. Meanwhile, in Israel, there is growing concern over the possibility of rebel forces advancing toward the Golan Heights and potentially capturing weapons from the Syrian military, which could be diverted to groups like Hezbollah.

In response to these developments, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their operations, including airstrikes against Hezbollah's weapon-smuggling routes at the Syrian-Lebanese border. The IDF has made it clear that it will not tolerate any threats to Israel’s security, especially from militant groups taking advantage of the instability in Syria.

Israel’s Strategic Dilemmas

As the rebels push further into Syrian territory, Israel’s security establishment is on high alert. With the Assad regime’s forces appearing increasingly unable to resist the rebel advance, Israeli officials fear that military weapons could fall into the hands of groups hostile to Israel, including Hezbollah. This situation has led to further Israeli military strikes and preparations to address potential threats emanating from the conflict next door.