Why Israel Captured Syria’s Tallest Mountain After Assad’s Fall

 

In the immediate aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Israel launched a decisive military campaign targeting Syrian military assets. Nearly 500 strategic sites were hit, including Syria’s naval infrastructure and surface-to-air missile systems. However, one of the most significant outcomes of this offensive was Israel’s capture of Mount Hermon’s summit — Syria’s tallest mountain and a prized vantage point with sweeping views of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.

Military analysts view Mount Hermon as a critical asset in regional security. “This peak offers unparalleled surveillance capabilities,” said Efraim Inbar, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS). “There’s no substitute for mountains in modern warfare, despite technological advances.” The summit, previously a demilitarized zone patrolled by UN peacekeepers for decades, was swiftly taken under Israeli control, marking a shift in the region’s balance of power.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, emphasized the strategic value of the mountain, calling for the military to prepare for a prolonged presence in the harsh winter conditions. “Maintaining control over Mount Hermon’s summit is crucial for our security given the evolving situation in Syria,” he declared in a public statement.

Reports from local activist groups suggested that Israeli forces had advanced further into Syrian territory, reaching as far as Beqaasem, about 25 kilometers from Damascus. However, Israeli military spokespeople denied these claims, stating that their objective was to safeguard key positions rather than push toward Syria’s capital.

Mount Hermon has long been at the heart of geopolitical conflict. During the 1967 war, Israel captured the Golan Heights, which includes the lower slopes of Mount Hermon. The region remained a contested area, with Syria’s failed 1973 attempt to reclaim the territory. The United Nations has never recognized Israel’s 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights, though the U.S. acknowledged it under the Trump administration.

For decades, Israel controlled parts of Mount Hermon’s lower slopes, even operating a ski resort there. But the summit itself, along with higher-altitude UN peacekeeping stations, remained Syrian-controlled. That changed with Assad’s ousting. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, justified the capture, stating, “We have no interest in Syria’s internal affairs, but we will do what’s necessary to protect our security.”

Control of Mount Hermon’s summit provides Israel with a powerful surveillance advantage. At 2,814 meters (9,232 feet) above sea level, it’s the highest point in Syria and higher than any peak in Israel. “It offers a vantage point that allows for deep surveillance into Syrian territory,” said Inbar. He noted that electronic monitoring from such an altitude offers far greater capabilities than drones or other airborne alternatives, which are vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire.

With the summit just 35 kilometers from Damascus, Israeli artillery positioned on Mount Hermon’s slopes can now target areas deep within Syria’s capital. The proximity to Damascus adds another layer of leverage for Israel in future negotiations or conflicts.

Israeli officials have stated that their occupation of the summit is temporary. Netanyahu explained that a withdrawal would only occur if a stable Syrian force capable of securing the area under the 1974 agreement is established. “We will not allow militant groups to fill the vacuum and create a threat similar to the attacks of October 7,” he said, hinting at Israel’s broader counterterrorism strategy.

Analysts argue that the military may prefer to remain on Mount Hermon due to its immense strategic value. “Whether Israel withdraws is ultimately a political decision,” said Inbar. “But the military would undoubtedly prefer to stay.”