Syria

Syria is rife with internal and external problems which are cause for concern for Israel's security establishment. In the wake of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister and business leader, Rafiq al-Hariri , and the implication that Syria was behind the attack, Syria was forced to withdraw its forces from Lebanon ending its decades long de facto control of the country. Syrian President President Bashar el-Assad has been under immense international pressure to reform the Syrian system and end Syrian sponsored terrorism.

The world had high hopes for Assad when he came to power falling the death of his father in June 2000, however, he has not been able to escape the long shadow of his legendary father and is perceived as a weak leader with no internal backing. He has been under constant pressure since assuming the Presidency. With the fall of Iraq, Libya's public foregoing of its weapons of mass destruction program, US concerns of Syria supporting and condoning terrorist attacks in Iraq, the Hariri assassination and subsequent Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon there is a concern that Assad will resort to attacking Israel through Syrian backed terrorist allies (Hizballah in Lebanon and various Palestinian terror groups based in Damascus) in order to build internal support for his regime and turn the spotlight away from his perceived shortcomings.

The uncertain future of the current Syrian regime and its continued support of terrorism around the region are cause for great concern for Israel political and security leaders. The situation will need constant attention and regardless of who wins the upcoming elections, Syria will likely continue to be near the top of Israeli security concerns.