Why Israel Captured Syria’s Highest Mountain
Last Updated on December 18, 2024 6:48 am
After the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Israel wanted to keep Syrian military assets out of the hands of the rebels. To do this, it wasted no time in striking nearly 500 Syrian targets, destroying the navy and bombing several areas of Syria. But the capture of Mount Hermon, Syria’s highest mountain, may prove to be Israel’s most lasting achievement.
“This is the highest point in the region when you look at Lebanon, Syria, Israel. It is strategically very important. There is no alternative to mountains,” said Ephraim Inbar, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS).
On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to prepare for the harsh conditions of winter deployment.
“Given the situation in Syria, it is very important for our security to maintain control of the summit of Mount Hermon,” he said in a statement.
The Mount Hermon summit is a huge asset under Israeli control. At 9,232 feet, the peak is higher than any mountain in Syria or Israel and second only to one in Lebanon.
Ephraim Inbar, people sometimes say that land is not important in the age of missiles – that’s just a lie.
He says that from here, electronic surveillance can be used deep inside Syrian territory, giving Israel early warning of an impending attack.