Historically considered a relentless enemy of Israel, the Syrian army's status declined due to the country's civil war. Materially and publicly, the army is no longer perceived as a national army, but as “Assad’s army.” Despite this, it is rearming and attempting to operate with the resources it has.
The Syrian army, initially formed from the French Army of the Levant in Lebanon and Syria, played an integral role in the combined Arab assault on the newly established State of Israel in 1948. "We couldn't push it out of all the territory it occupied in Israel, and since has been a pesky and provocative enemy from the Golan Heights," said Prof. Eyal Zisser, a modern Lebanese and Syrian history expert and vice-rector at Tel Aviv University.
Like many armies in the region, Syria's military attempted coups, and in February 1966, a group of young officers from the leftist faction of the ruling Ba'ath party seized power. According to Prof. Zisser, this faction did not receive substantial public support and faced bitter internal conflicts, prompting them to unite the country with a familiar ideology - uniting everyone against Israel.
For this reason, the Syrians worked to divert the Jordan River’s water sources, initiated conflicts in demilitarized zones and sponsored Fatah terrorist attacks, which they helped establish in Damascus as early as 1965.
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The Syrian army, initially formed from the French Army of the Levant in Lebanon and Syria, played an integral role in the combined Arab assault on the newly established State of Israel in 1948. "We couldn't push it out of all the territory it occupied in Israel, and since has been a pesky and provocative enemy from the Golan Heights," said Prof. Eyal Zisser, a modern Lebanese and Syrian history expert and vice-rector at Tel Aviv University.
Like many armies in the region, Syria's military attempted coups, and in February 1966, a group of young officers from the leftist faction of the ruling Ba'ath party seized power. According to Prof. Zisser, this faction did not receive substantial public support and faced bitter internal conflicts, prompting them to unite the country with a familiar ideology - uniting everyone against Israel.
For this reason, the Syrians worked to divert the Jordan River’s water sources, initiated conflicts in demilitarized zones and sponsored Fatah terrorist attacks, which they helped establish in Damascus as early as 1965.
More
Syrian army regroups and rearms for confrontation with Israel
Harassing Israel at the border and using chemical weapons during Arab Spring, Syrian army regaining strength with Iran and Russia's help; once-powerful force plans to call up reservists for 'only up to two years'
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