Last night, the Israeli Security Cabinet met to assess the latest developments in Syria and the implications for Israel’s security. A senior Israeli official said, “The fall of Damascus now seems more plausible than it had until very recently.”
Israel is concerned about two possible scenarios: a takeover of Syria by the radical Sunni forces leading the rebel offensive, and the increase of Iranian influence and military resources in Syria.
The IDF announced that it is prepared for all scenarios — including a potential October 7-style attack from Syria — and has reinforced its air and ground forces in the Golan Heights. The IDF released a photo of increased fortifications being built along the Israel-Syria border.
Meanwhile, Iran is ramping up its military support for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad amid the most significant offensive by rebel forces in years, which is moving toward Israel’s border.
Today, a senior Iranian official announced that Iran will send missiles, drones and more military advisors to Syria — adding to the tens of thousands of Iranian-backed forces already in the country. Hundreds of additional Iranian-backed terrorists already crossed the border into Syria from Iraq earlier this week.
Also today, Iran’s foreign minister is scheduled to meet with his Syrian and Iraqi counterparts in Damascus to discuss the latest developments — the second time he’s visited the Syrian capital this week.
Iran’s increased support comes as anti-Assad forces are pushing toward the city of Homs, which would cut off Syria’s capital from the coast, where Assad’s Russian allies have naval and air bases. The rebels have already captured two major cities: Aleppo (Syria’s largest city) and Hama (which was captured yesterday).
Reuterscalled the recent rebel advancement “the swiftest battlefield advance by either side since a street uprising against Assad mushroomed into civil war 13 years ago.”
America must continue to stand with our ally Israel and ensure it has the resources needed to protect its people against Iran and its terrorist proxies.
IAEA chief: Iran’s enrichment to near bomb-grade set to rise ‘dramatically’
The head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, says the rate at which Iran can enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels is “increasing dramatically.
“Today, the agency is announcing that the production capacity is increasing dramatically of the 60% inventory,” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Grossi said, adding that it was set to rise to “seven, eight times more, maybe, or even more” than the previous rate.
Grossi’s comments come the week after an IAEA report noted that Iran “plans to install more than 6,000 extra uranium-enriching centrifuges at its enrichment plants and bring more of those already in place online.”
New U.S. reports on Iran’s nuclear program and support for terrorism
Yesterday, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence released two new public reports required by AIPAC-backed bills passed by Congress.
The first report, on Iran’s nuclear program, notes:
Iran has “undertaken activities that better position it to produce [a nuclear weapon], if it so chooses.”
“Tehran has the infrastructure and experience to quickly produce weapons-grade uranium at multiple underground facilities, if it so chooses.”
“Since our last update in July 2024, Iran has continued to increase its stockpiles of 20-percent and 60-percent enriched uranium, manufacture and operate an increasing number of advanced centrifuges, and publicly discuss the utility of nuclear weapons.”
Iran’s "enriched uranium stockpiles are far greater than needed for what it claims it will use the uranium for and Iran could produce more than a dozen nuclear weapons if its total uranium stockpile were further enriched.”
According to the second report, on Iran’s support for terrorism:
“Iran remains the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world, providing financial aid, advanced weapons and tactics, and direction to militants, partners, proxies, and terrorist groups across the Middle East and around the globe.”
“Iran’s goal is to expel U.S. forces from the Middle East, challenge Israel and weaken U.S. influence in the region, and, in the long run, displace the U.S.-led rules based international system.”
“For decades, Iranian security services have used their capabilities and those of proxies, partners, and affiliates to plan attacks globally against Jewish and Israeli individuals, Iranian dissidents, and Western interests. This includes U.S. persons abroad and in the United States.”
“Iran seeks to further expand its influence in the Middle East and beyond in part by using operations designed to coerce political leaders, undermine political systems, and shape the political landscape in ways that favor its national security objectives. Iran continues to demonstrate a willingness and capability to conduct covert influence operations aimed at U.S. interests.”
America must increase the economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran to end its quest for nuclear weapons and combat its regional aggression and support for terrorism.
America must also ensure our ally Israel has the resources and support needed to protect its people from the Iranian threat.
WSJ editorial: “The Propaganda War on Israel Never Stops”
Wall Street Journal editorial board highlights the absurdity of Amnesty International’s new report: “From the people who brought you ‘Israeli apartheid’ comes another trendy smear: ‘Israeli genocide.’”
“Amnesty poses as a fair-minded critic of Israeli policies, but it tipped its hand in its 2022 report that tried to claim ‘this system of apartheid originated with the creation of Israel in May 1948.’ That’s well before any 'occupation,' but it reflects the ideological obsession that treats the Jewish state’s existence, in any borders, as a crime,” the editorial notes.
“Not one of the groups yelling genocide calls on Egypt to let women and children escape to safety by opening its border with Gaza. Uniquely in this conflict, they insist that civilians be penned in the war zone. They do so because they know there isn’t an Israeli genocide but rather unintended civilian casualties, which can be used against Israel.”
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
AIPAC 251 H St. NW • Washington D.C. 20001 • TEL 202-639-5200
