An IDF tank keeps a watchful eye over the Golan Heights. The snow-capped Mt. Hermon is in the background. Photo: wiki commons.

The Golan Heights is becoming a major threat to Israeli security as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad moves his forces from the mountainous area to Damascus, continuing the fight for his political survival.

On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that Syrian forces were being moved from the Golan region and into the Syrian capital, while on the same day, Israel’s military intelligence chief Aviv Kochavi spoke to the Knesset about the dangers of this development.

“The Golan area is liable to become an arena of operations against Israel in much the same way the Sinai is today, and that’s a result of the increasing entrenchment of global jihad in Syria,” he said. Kochavi was referring to the increase in rocket attacks and deadly cross border raids from the Egyptian controlled Sinai, into Israel, which have occurred since the overthrow of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak nearly two years ago.

Other concerns Kochavi noted to the Knesset on Tuesday included Syrian weapons falling into the hands of Hezbollah in Lebanon if Assad is removed from power.

The IDF is worried that “strategic weapons and firearms from Syria will end up in their hands,” he said.

Kochavi also stated that Assad “will not survive the uprising, even if it takes some more time.”