Israel’s removal of landmines near Golan signals broader front against Hezbollah, sources say

A military action that involves attacks from the Golan, occupied by Israel, and, possibly, from the demilitarized zone that separates it from Syrian territory, could expand the conflict that pits Israel against Hezbollah and its ally Hamas, which has already attracted Iran and risks attracting the United States.

Israel has been exchanging attacks with Tehran-backed Hezbollah since the group began launching missiles across the Lebanese border in support of Hamas after its deadly attack on southern Israel triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Now, in addition to Israeli airstrikes that caused significant damage to Hezbollah last month, the group is under Israeli ground attack from the south and faces Israeli naval bombardment from the Mediterranean to the west.

By extending its front in the east, Israel could further tighten arms supply routes for Hezbollah, some of which run through Syria, Lebanon’s eastern neighbor and ally of Iran.

Navvar Saban, a conflict analyst at the Istanbul-based Harmoon Center, said the operations in the Golan, a 1,200 km² mountainous plateau that also overlooks Lebanon and borders Jordan, appear to be an attempt to “prepare the ground ” for a broader offensive in Lebanon.

“Everything that is happening in Syria is to serve Israel’s strategy in Lebanon — to target Hezbollah’s supply routes, warehouses, people linked to supply lines,” he said.