The New, Ambiguous Enemy: What the IDF Commander on the Syrian Border Fears Most
As winter approaches, Israeli forces on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon are working to neutralize an ambiguous threat and prepare for an enemy that is "in the making."
For nine months, soldiers of the IDF's Mountain Brigade have been operating deep inside Syrian territory in the Hermon region, a strategic area Israel has controlled since the fall of the Assad regime last December. In a complex and persistent effort, soldiers have raided and neutralized more than 30 former Syrian army outposts, some located dozens of kilometers across the border.
The primary objective is to prevent deadly weapons from falling into the wrong hands. In a meticulous and dangerous cleanup mission, Israeli forces have already confiscated and destroyed over 7 tons of munitions, including mines, explosives, grenades, and rockets.
But the greatest challenge for the soldiers is not the old enemy, but a new, ambiguous one. The brigade commander, Colonel L., describes the situation as a "non-obvious enemy" and an "enemy in the making." He notes the complexity of the new Syrian reality, where the new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, is now seen in a tailored suit. Colonel L. stresses that the army is not "blind" to his extremist past. The commander says that "as long as the situation is in the making, our presence here to keep the area sterile is significant."
The danger of the mission was highlighted recently when four soldiers were lightly wounded by an old Syrian grenade during a clearance operation. The incident occurred during work to clear ammunition near Damascus, with a commander explaining, "We are doing activities even in such depth with a clear purpose, to get the ammunition out as soon as possible and before it falls into the wrong hands."
The brigade is also in a race against time to prepare for the harsh Hermon winter. At an elevation of over 2,300 meters, a new reality requires new infrastructure. Engineers are working to widen roads and install markers before heavy snows cover the area. The commander of Battalion 299, Lieutenant Colonel S., explains that they are preparing the outposts to withstand isolation for "days to months."
While the IDF provides humanitarian aid to the nearby Druze and Sunni villages, senior officials maintain a professional and cautious approach. Despite the warm reception from the locals, the IDF is careful to minimize friction, understanding that the situation with the local population could change.
