Israel Reportedly Plans to Dissolve Syria into ‘Cantons’

The Israeli government is reportedly exploring the possibility of organizing an international conference to discuss dividing Syria into “cantons,” according to a report published by the Hebrew-language newspaper Israel Hayom on 9 January.

In a recent cabinet meeting led by Defense Minister Israel Katz, discussions centered on developments in Syria, including concerns about the new Syrian government and the status of the Kurdish minority in the northern regions. During the meeting, Energy Minister Eli Cohen proposed convening such a conference to “ensure the security of [Israel’s] northern border” and enable Israel to take active measures against potential threats posed by rebel groups.

A key aspect of the proposed conference would involve deliberating on dividing Syria into smaller administrative regions, or “cantons.” Israel Hayom noted that there is apprehension about the idea being associated with Israel, as this might hinder its acceptance within Syria. To address this, the discussions on the topic have been classified. The primary goal of the conference, according to the report, is to strengthen Israel’s defensive posture against potential threats from the newly established Syrian authorities, which are now led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The newspaper highlighted that the 1974 border agreement between Israel and Syria has been disregarded by the HTS-led government. Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Tel Aviv publicly withdrew from the long-standing agreement and immediately launched military actions in Syria, including a bombing campaign.

The conference is also expected to focus on ensuring the protection of minority groups in Syria, such as the Kurdish population.

Israel plans to country Turkey’s influence as well!

The cabinet discussion also addressed ways to counter Turkey’s growing influence in Syria, which has become more entrenched since the fall of the previous government.

Citing sources, Israel Hayom stated that while Israel does not intend to permanently occupy areas of Syria seized after Assad’s downfall, it has not announced any withdrawal plans.

Assad’s regime was toppled on 8 December following an 11-day offensive that led to the collapse of the Syrian military and the capture of the capital by HTS-led forces. Despite promises from the new government to safeguard minority groups, numerous reports have documented attacks on Christian and Alawite communities, including desecration of religious sites and executions of Alawite civilians and former government personnel. Members of extremist groups and former Al-Qaeda affiliates have reportedly assumed significant roles in the new administration and its military.

Following the collapse of Assad’s government, Israeli forces quickly advanced into Syrian territory, crossing the UN-monitored buffer zone and taking control of strategic locations in southern Syria, including areas near Damascus. The Israeli military has also reportedly besieged government buildings, fired on protesters, and issued threats to local villages. Meanwhile, the new Syrian authorities have largely refrained from condemning Israel’s actions, as they focus on suppressing remnants of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and armed groups opposing HTS rule.

Comments from HTS officials, including leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani), suggest the new administration has no intention of opposing Israel or engaging in conflict with it.

On 8 January, Israeli forces detained Sylvain Mercadier, a journalist for the French magazine Marianne, in the buffer zone of the occupied Golan Heights. Mercadier reported being “mistreated for over four hours” and having his equipment confiscated by Israeli troops. Israeli army spokesperson Nadav Shoshani stated that the journalist was detained for approaching military forces too closely but was later released after questioning.