A report prepared by an Israeli intelligence center says Iran might increase its influence in Syria and Iraq after Daesh’s collapse
A report published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, which is known for its close relations with Israeli intelligence agencies, revealed that Israel might cooperate with the Daesh terrorist organization against Iran’s increasing presence in Syria and Iraq.
Noting that Daesh is a threat for the whole region, the report said that Israel’s main concern is Iran’s plan to increase its influence in Syria and its possibility to send weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon through the country.
“The Iranian presence in Syria increases the likelihood of friction with Israel and may lead to an escalation between the two countries,” it stated.
Daesh, whose Iraq and Syria presence is almost ended, “will likely change its combat patterns and revert to guerrilla tactics and terrorism following the end of the campaign against it in Iraq, and may carry out hit-and-run attacks against Iranian vehicles moving along the land,” according to report. Earlier, there were reports that Israel allegedly controlled some cells within Daesh.
According to the report, Iran will struggle to respond to a Daesh attack: “We assess that Iran and the militias under their patronage will struggle to provide an adequate response to this terrorism challenge.”
The report also stated that Iran was setting up military bases in Syria to conspire against Israel and might establish production centers to manufacture weapons for Hezbollah.
“In a report published by BBC on November 10, 2017; ‘a Western intelligence official’ told the BBC that Iran has begun constructing a permanent base near the town of al-Kiswah, south of Damascus. The BBC reported that satellite images indicate that construction work at the site began during 2017,” the report read.
The fact that Israel did not react when Daesh struck Iran or its allies is being interpreted as a move to entertain the possibility of an alliance with the terrorist organization.
Brigadier General Ronen Manelis, Israel's military's chief spokesperson said that the Israeli army has designated the head of Hezbollah as an assassination target in case of a war with Lebanon. Manelis noted that the Israeli Defense Forces conducts psychological operations and is in a media war against Hezbollah. Stating that there will be no absolute winner in the media war, Manelis said, “It's clear that Nasrallah is a target.” Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is the leader of Hezbollah.
