Israel’s Security Concerns on Northern Border

With the ongoing civil war in Syria, Israel’s northern border is likely to become a hotbed for terrorist activity
IDF Soldiers on the Israel-Syria border on Naksa Day, June 2011 (Photo: AP) IDF Soldiers on the Israel-Syria border on Naksa Day, June 2011 (Photo: AP)

Commander of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, spoke at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies on Wednesday to address Israel’s current security concerns on its northern border.

Maj. Gen. Golan spoke about the current situation in Syria, and that terror activity against Israel will flourish along Israel’s northern border. "Al-Qaeda terrorists located in Syria today and operating against the Syrian regime might in time attack Israel. The Syrian threat on Israel calls for attention. It will not happen tomorrow morning, but it might happen in the coming months.”

He further explained, "Syria has mass-destruction weapons alongside a large, advanced weapon arsenal that includes surface-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, and nuclear weapons. The fact that Syria is a weapon storage facility that supplies terrorist organizations in the region- is of great concern."

Maj. Gen. Golan also addressed Iran, saying, "Iran is here, we fight an indirect war against Iran on a daily basis – against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The negative influence of Iran is extremely significant in our region as well as its involvement both here and in Syria."