Israel acts to secure its border

The Trump administration may be peeved about Israel’s audacious attacks on key targets in the Syrian capital, Damascus, including the Defence Ministry and the vast Assad-era presidential palace, as well as Syrian government forces in the south of the country. But it shouldn’t be. Nor should it be surprised by Israel’s action. Sectarian violence between Syria’s pro-Israel Druze religious minority and Bedouin tribesmen, that has left hundreds dead and seen the new government in Damascus, led by former al-Qa’ida terrorist Ahmed al-Sharaa, rush troops to the area, poses a direct threat to Israel, especially its control over the Golan Heights that is so vital to Israel’s security.

Since he seized power in Damascus with the overthrow of the despotic Assad regime last December, Mr Sharaa has claimed to have eschewed his al-Qa’ida terrorist past. He has adopted a different name and identity, made a point of always wearing Western suits and ties, and been embraced not just by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a fellow Islamist, but also Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

With good reason, however, Israel has remained deeply wary of him. The Trump administration may be angry that the Israeli bombing of Damascus has opened another front in the Middle East conflict, but Israel could not reasonably be expected to do otherwise, given the uncertainty that persists in relation to the new, terrorist-led regime in Damascus. There are about 145,000 Druze living within Israel and in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Justifying Israel’s action on Wednesday, Defence Minister Israel Katz said: “We will not allow harm to the Druze in Syria … we will not stand idly by … (we are) acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border.”

Israel deserves support in doing so. The uncertainties that persist about the Sharaa regime’s takeover in Damascus demand no less. The Druze, whose religion evolved from a form of Shia Islam, are a vital element in what passes for stability in southern Syria and the Golan Heights. Their importance to Israel’s security cannot be overstated. Allowing the Islamist Sharaa forces, using the excuse of dealing with sectarian violence, to take control of areas abutting Israel’s border would add to the Jewish state’s security problems.

By acting decisively, Israel has left in no doubt the seriousness of the situation and produced a speedy outcome, a ceasefire and backdown in Damascus.