Shin Bet chief secretly tours Syria amid occupation expansion
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New Shin Bet head David Zini secretly entered occupied Syrian areas and toured near Gaza, as Israeli forces expand their occupation close to Damascus.
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An Israeli soldier load a tank, next to the security fence near the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (AP)
David Zini, the recently appointed head of the Shin Bet, conducted two covert military tours in recent weeks, including visits to areas inside Syria and near Gaza, according to a report published by Israel Hayom on Wednesday.
According to the report, Zini entered Syria alongside occupation forces, touring areas where the Israeli forces are currently operating. The newspaper indicated that this marks part of Zini’s preliminary assessment of regions he will oversee as he assumes leadership of the internal security agency.
The report emphasized that the visit involved strategic coordination with the Alexandroni Brigade and included detailed inspections of front-line military deployments.
Focus on Mount Hermon
Israel Hayom revealed that a forthcoming piece in its weekly magazine will cover the presence of occupation troops along the new de facto occupation limit at the summit of Mount Hermon, located just 20 kilometers from Damascus.
Israeli troops interviewed for the article are expected to speak publicly for the first time about secret missions conducted in the area using mobile field units.
The newspaper described Mount Hermon as the “eyes of the state,” lamenting that most Israelis underestimate the narrow scope of the territory occupied by "Israel" in comparison to the broader mountainous region that is historically Syrian.
The Israeli military occupied Syria’s Mount Hermon with Israeli occupation forces advancing several kilometers into the Syrian Golan, Israeli media reported on December 8, the day Bashar al-Assad's regime collapsed in Syria.
Read more: From Mt. Hermon: Residents of Hader, Syria, reject Israeli occupation
Symbolism and military messaging
Describing the strategic position, the paper noted, “At the edge of the cliff, on the summit of Jabal Hermon, lies what’s called the strategic chain,” questioning how the occupation allowed its absence from the location since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
A reserve captain interviewed by the paper described the recent deployment as a “historic achievement,” recounting his personal experience. “Months ago, standing on the summit of Jabal Hermon, 20 kilometers from Damascus, was a dream come true.”
He added, “This place is a strategic site for national security. With these vehicles, the brigade commander raised the Israeli flag on the summit. Every time I enter here, I feel renewed emotion at this achievement.”
Read more: Israeli forces violate Syrian territory amid speculated secret talks
