Netanyahu Accuses Iran of Establishing a 'Terrorist Front' in the Golan

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated that any agreement in Syria must include the 'interests' of Israel, including preventing Iran's 'aggression' towards Israel through Syrian territory. During a cabinet meeting on Sunday, March 9, he welcomed the ceasefire between conflicting forces in Syria but warned about the formation of what he termed a 'second terror front' against Israel in the Golan Heights. The ceasefire agreement in Syria, mediated by the U.S. and Russia, came into effect on Saturday, March 8, after five years of conflict in the country. Israel has consistently accused Iran and Hezbollah of forming a 'terrorist front' in the Syrian Golan Heights. Israeli airstrikes in this area in January 2015 resulted in the deaths of several Hezbollah militants, including Jihad Mughniyeh, the son of Imad Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah commander, and an Iranian military commander. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry's website, Netanyahu stated that Tel Aviv will not accept the transfer of advanced weapons from Iran to Hezbollah through Syrian and Lebanese territory. The Israeli Prime Minister identified these three issues as 'red lines' for his government and added that Tel Aviv will continue to defend its interests in the Golan Heights. The New York Times reported that Israel has repeatedly stated it does not intend to get involved in the Syrian civil war, yet over the past five years, it has conducted numerous airstrikes against the positions of the Syrian army and its allies in the Golan Heights. However, these strikes have never been officially acknowledged by Israel due to concerns about retaliatory actions. Hezbollah has also accused Israel of being behind the airstrike in late December of this year that targeted the residence of Samir Qantar, a senior military commander of Hezbollah near Damascus. Samir Qantar was the longest-serving Arab prisoner in Israel, arrested in 1979 at the age of 16 while carrying out an operation with three other members of the 'Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine' in the town of Nahariya in northern Palestine. After his arrest, he was sentenced to four life sentences and 47 years in prison for the murder of three Israeli citizens and was released in 2008 during a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah after 29 years in prison. Washington had stated that Qantar was active in the Golan Heights in favor of Hezbollah in collaboration with Iran and Syria. Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for the airstrike that resulted in Qantar's death, several ministers in the Israeli government welcomed his death. In this context, Israeli attack drones have conducted airstrikes 'in Syrian territory.' Steinitz: Israel is concerned about the deployment of Iranian military forces at the Syrian border. Netanyahu and Putin discussed the 'increased military presence of Russia in Syria.' An Israeli official attributed a rocket attack from Syria to Israel to Iran. An Israeli officer stated that Iran is involved in terrorist attacks at the Golan border.