In what the IDF is calling a "forward defensive" operation, forces of the 474th formation's combat team have been operating across the border in Syria in order to provide protection for Israel in general and the Golan Heights in particular.
Infantry and armored forces have been scouring former Syrian Army bases and infrastructures in bases and dominating positions, seizing and destroying weapons which once belonged to now-deposed Bashar Assad's army. The weapons include anti-tank missiles and explosive devices.
Watch (Source: IDF Spokesperson):
Ever since the rapid collapse of the Syrian regime under Bashar Assad in the face of a rapid and effective rebel advance, the IDF has been working hard to destroy as much of the former Syrian Army's weapons to ensure no-one gets their hands on it to use it against Israel.
The Air Force launched a massive wave of consecutive strikes on bases, outposts, and even suspected chemical weapons plants in order to render all the vehicles, weapons, and military equipment unusable for anyone.
In addition, with the collapse of the Syrian Army across the border, Israel has said that it does not consider the 1974 Separation of Forces agreement delineating the border and the buffer zone between the two countries to be in force.
It has therefore sent forces across the border to disarm a much larger portion of southern Syria of its weapons, and Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz have both indicated that Israel intends to remain in southern Syria and on the Syrian Golan for the foreseeable future, at least until a force they can trust can come and protect the other side of the border.
The Syrian rebel government itself has been cautious in criticizing these operations, as it is currently busy with consolidating control over the rest of the country, including in southern Syria where local Druze have told them to stay away.
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