ISIS regrouping just kilometres from Israel’s Golan border, warns intelligence centre

A new report from Israeli research centre Alma has raised fresh alarm over Islamic State activity in southern Syria, warning that the militant group is emerging from hiding and establishing a foothold dangerously close to Israeli territory. According to the analysis, ISIS is moving from a phase of concealment into active reorganisation, setting up infrastructure in the region and positioning itself to potentially spread influence into neighbouring Lebanon and Jordan.The report highlights that the jihadist organisation is exploiting established smuggling routes across the Syria-Israel border region, using mountain passes and desert crossings that have historically been used for weapons trafficking and militant movement. Intelligence analysts suggest the group is using the ongoing chaos in Syria, combined with reduced international military pressure, to consolidate its presence in pockets of the Golan Heights area and surrounding terrain.The findings come amid broader concerns about militant groups reconstituting themselves across the fractured Syrian landscape. Alma’s assessment indicates that ISIS is deliberately positioning itself to potentially export its operations and ideology into both Lebanon and Jordan, where it has conducted attacks in the past. The proximity of these activities to Israel’s border has prompted Israeli security officials to increase monitoring of the sector.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.