BICOM

Israel secretly armed and funded at least 12 rebels groups in southern Syria until July in order to keep Iranian-backed militias and Islamic State fighters away from its border.

Foreign Policy‘s Elizabeth Tsurkov interviewed more than two dozen members of the rebel groups, who reported that Israel’s support included assault rifles, machine guns, mortar launchers and transport vehicles. The support was delivered through the three border crossings between the Golan Heights and Syria that were also used for humanitarian aid.

According to the report, Israel originally transferred US-manufactured M16 assault rifles, but later switched to non-American weaponry in order to conceal the source of assistance. This included guns and ammunition originating in an Iranian shipment to the Lebanese Hezbollah group that Israel had seized in 2009.

Israel reportedly paid each rebel approximately $75 per month, with additional money transfers for the groups to purchase weapons on Syria’s black market. “The payments, along with the service Israel was getting in return, created an expectation among the rebels that Israel would intercede if troops loyal to President Bashar Assad tried to advance on southern Syria. When regime forces backed by Russian air power did precisely that this past summer, Israel did not intervene, leaving the rebel groups feeling betrayed,” the report said.

Two of the groups Israel supported were Forsan al-Jolan (the Golan Knights), a faction based in the border town of Jubata al-Khashab in Quneitra, and Liwaa Omar bin al-Khattab, based in Beit Jinn, a town bordering Mount Hermon. A Syrian fighter named Y, who fought with Forsan al-Jolan, told Tsurkov: “Israel is the only one with interests in the region and a little bit of humanity and [provides] assistance to civilians.”

“But as troops loyal to Assad, aided by Russian and Iranian forces, reasserted control over more and more areas of Syria, Israel sought other ways to guarantee its interests along the border”, which left resentment on the Syrian side, said Y.

Israel’s “Good Neighbour” programme has given humanitarian aid to rebel groups and civilians in southern Syria as well as providing medical treatment to thousands of Syrians in Israeli hospitals.