This month, we mark one year since the fall of the Assad regime and the rise of the new government in Syria. This anniversary comes shortly after the one-year anniversary of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Has Israel – and the region – become safer since then? At first glance, the answer appears to be affirmative. Israel’s military achievements have been phenomenal, and its subsequent policies have prevented terrorist organizations from flourishing beyond the border.
In Lebanon, the victory over Hezbollah was clear and decisive: the elimination of its entire leadership, including the new chief of staff about a month ago; an 80% reduction in rockets and aerial arsenal; the elimination or neutralization of command levels and field commanders thanks to the “pagers attack”; and the destruction of Hezbollah’s ability to carry out an invasion into Israel. All of this has been reinforced by ongoing daily Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah’s rehabilitation efforts.
In Syria, the new leadership is also fighting Hezbollah’s attempts to smuggle weapons into Lebanon, as well as battling ISIS. It appears that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is working to establish his position in the West as a leader seeking to bring prosperity and a new era to Syria. But the reality in the Middle East is more complex. Unfortunately, neither Hezbollah, despite its defeat, nor Sharaa, despite his victory, has abandoned its radical Islamist ideology. (Read More)
