Israel's Security Cabinet to meet for 2 days to discuss escalating developments in Syria

JERUSALEM

Israel's Security and Political Cabinet will meet on Saturday and Sunday evenings to discuss escalating developments in Syria, where anti-Assad regime forces are gaining control of major towns and cities, Channel 12 reported Friday.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation also reported that Israel is concerned about the potential collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and is preparing for all possible consequences, including the risk of strategic weapons falling into the hands of anti-regime forces.

The report noted that the Israeli army is closely monitoring the progress of anti-regime groups in Syria, particularly as Assad's forces continue to retreat.

In response to the growing instability, the Israeli army has reportedly reinforced its presence along the Golan Heights border with Syria, deploying hundreds of soldiers, although no further details are provided by the two media outlets.

Earlier on Thursday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with intelligence officials to discuss the situation in Syria.

Israel, which shares its northern border with Syria, remains apprehensive about opposition forces seizing weapons it fears could later be used against the Israeli military.

Since Nov. 27, Syrian anti-regime forces have been fighting regime forces in several regions.

After days of intense fighting, anti-regime forces took control of Idlib province in the north, the majority of Aleppo province, and Hama in central Syria on Thursday.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi