Op-Ed: International Silence as Israel Expands its Occupation of Syria While Destroying its Defence Capabilities

People participate in a rally in the town of Majdal Shams, close to the Syrian border, demanding Israel return the annexed Golan Heights to Syria, Friday Feb. 14, 2025. (Photo: AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

On Feb. 13, France hosted an international conference on the future of Syria’s governance attended by Western leaders, regional stakeholders, and Asaad al-Shaibani, Syria’s appointed Foreign Minister. Assad is also a member of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) – the rebel group which has recently obtained control of the country. The goal of the conference was to outline steps for a successful Syrian Arab Republic given its governmental transition. 

The conference outlined steps for ensuring HTS respects humanitarian law, increasing humanitarian aid, supporting the unification of Syria, ensuring that extremist groups do not obtain military weapons, and removing sanctions. 

This is the third conference focused on the future of a post-Assad Syria following the ousting of the corrupt Assad regime in Dec. 2024 and HTS’s rise to power. This conference, just as the first and second ones, ignored Israel’s blatant violations of international law in the Golan Heights and broader Syria. Israel capitalized off of Syria’s fragile government transition to expand its already illegal occupation of the Golan Heights and decimate the country’s defense capabilities.

Israel’s geographic growth has expanded into 15 kilometers of Damascus as part of Netenyahu’s plan: “Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, and it is especially important at this time. We will continue to hold onto it, make it flourish, and settle it.” 

An investment of 40 million NIS, the Israeli currency, has been allocated for this initiative, and is being used partially for the creation of military bases and settlements in the region. These actions have been cited as illegal under international law.

In 1974, following the Six Day War in 1967, Israel and Syria struck an agreement that designated the Golan Heights as a buffer zone between the two states. Nonetheless, Israel has routinely conducted operations in the region, and ultimately annexed the territory. 

Recently, Syrians in the region have stated that Israel has conducted a series of raids, road closures, additional checkpoints, and unlawful arrests. These actions are irrefutable evidence that Israel is violating international law by exerting authority over what is internationally recognized as a neutral buffer zone. 

Moreover, within days of Assad’s fall, Israel began bombing Syria. Israel’s rationale for dropping over 800 bombs and airstrikes on military capabilities and defense infrastructure was that it wanted to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of extremists. 

This extreme act of forward thinking defense is also in defiance of international law. This was further described by Jonathan Kuttab, Non-resident Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC:

“Under no legal theory, however, is it legitimate to simply invade another country and destroy its defense capacities and capture territory, just because it is a foe, its regime is disliked, or to improve security or serve interests with unfettered control over another country’s airspace. Such a position renders international law illusory and opens a Pandora’s box, as any powerful country may feel the urge to start wars with its neighbors or resort to military means to settle its disputes or advance its claims and interests.” 

Syria is in an extremely vulnerable position given that Israel has destroyed 70-80% of its military infrastructure. HTS has now turned their complete attention to deciding on a response to Israel’s acts of aggression. 

“Israelis have clearly crossed the disengagement line in Syria, which threatens a new unjustified escalation in the region,” stated Ahmed al-Sharaa, HTS’s leader. He continued that despite the violation, “the general exhaustion in Syria after years of war and conflict does not allow us to enter new conflicts… The priority at this stage is reconstruction and stability.” Since its rise to power, HTS has demonstrated its ability to be pragmatic and strategic.

Men wave the Syrian flag as HTS fighters celebrate after looking for militiamen faithful to the ousted President Bashar Assad on Jan. 2 2025. (Photo: AP Photo/Leo Correa)

There were Western concerns about the true motives of HTS, due to the fact that the group was formed as an offshoot of Al-Qaeda, a relationship which ended in 2017. Despite this alarm, most of these concerns have subsided as many world leaders have met with HTS representatives, therefore granting the organization legitimacy and demonstrating a willingness to have diplomatic ties with HTS. 

One of HTS’s pressing goals is to be taken off of countries’ terrorist lists, something which has stood in the way of the group's complete legitimacy and acceptance among the international community. In 2021 James Jeffrey, the US ambassador to Iraq (2010–2012) and Turkey (2008–2010) received correspondence from HTS. In response to terrorist allegations, HTS stated, “We want to be your friend. We're not terrorists. We're just fighting Assad.”

HTS has aspirations of being respected on the international stage, especially since it is in desperate need of removing U.N. sanctions to rebuild Syria, provide relief efforts, and rebuild its military capabilities. 

Israel tarnished its relationship with HTS before the group was given an opportunity to prove itself as a legitimate governing force. With no signs of going anywhere, Israel ought to invoke policy which views HTS as an equal partner, as it is the entity governing Syria.

Unsurprisingly, the global community, predominantly the West, remains quiet about Israel’s blatant disregard for international law. They have selective amnesia when it comes to Golan Heights and international law violations.

As of March 3, 2025 Israel has continued its strikes on Syria, targeting major cities such as Damascus and Tartarus. Mount Hermon, another strategis Syrian territory, has also recently been annexed by Israeli forces. 

Though HTS cannot afford to address Israel's aggression at the moment, it does not mean that they will not retaliate sometime in the future. Israel has gotten away with these undeniable international law violations only because it has been allowed to do so. The international community must address these grievances. Otherwise international law is rendered obsolete, perpetuating further violence and aggression, as seen in the Gaza Strip, and now possibly in Syria.