Washington – Israeli surveillance posts tower over southern Lebanon’s hills, while Russian bases persist in Syria, both with U.S. blessing—a sign of growing control. Today, March 3, 2025, evidence mounts that Israel, supported by Washington, uses shaky ceasefires and Syria’s turmoil to deepen its military grip, casting doubt on peace pledges.
Israeli Occupation Defies Lebanon’s Ceasefire
Israel’s hold on southern Lebanon continues past the February 18 deadline of a November 2024 ceasefire. That agreement promised withdrawal within 60 days—first by January 26, then extended—yet Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “The U.S. gave them a green light to remain militarily in Lebanon indefinitely.” Before that date, Israel built five surveillance posts on key hilltops, hinting at long-term plans.
Lebanese troops found cameras hidden in trees and sensors among rocks after Israel left populated zones. “This mirrors Israel’s playbook from the Golan Heights,” said Leila Haddad, Middle East analyst at Georgetown University, suggesting security masks a bid for permanence. The U.S., a ceasefire guarantor with France, stays quiet on Katz’s claim, implying it favors Israeli goals over Lebanon’s rights.
Since Lebanon condemned this breach, it appealed to the U.S. and France for help. Israel rejected France’s troop offer, leaving Beirut powerless against what Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called “strategic high points” needed until the Lebanese Army takes charge—a timeline Katz later dismissed as “not time-dependent.”
Syria Faces Israeli Occupation Push
In Syria, Israel’s reach grows amid the December 2024 collapse of Bashar Assad. Reuters reports Israel presses the U.S. to keep Russian bases to curb Turkish sway and halt Hamas relocation—an odd stance given Israel’s February 2025 strikes near Damascus. “Israel thrives on disarray,” said Rami Khouri, Beirut-based commentator, framing this as a land grab, not defense.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded southern Syria stay demilitarized in February, echoing the Golan Heights’ 1981 annexation. The European Union once linked sanctions relief to Russia’s exit but eased some in February despite its bases staying—likely due to U.S. or Israeli sway. This shift shows Washington bending to Israel’s aims, even as Syria fragments.
A History of Lasting Control
Israel’s past offers clues. It held southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000 and the Golan Heights since 1967, turning short-term moves into decades of dominance. Today, surveillance posts and buffer zones in Lebanon and Syria follow suit. Haddad noted, “Security becomes a pretext for permanence,” pointing to a familiar pattern.
Then, the fallout spreads. Lebanon’s ceasefire falters, Syria’s rebuilding lags, and tensions with Turkey and Iran rise. Civilians suffer most—300,000 remain displaced from Israel’s Lebanon campaign, per a United Nations report last week, a number poised to climb as conflict drags on.
What Fuels Israel and the U.S.?
Israel cites Hezbollah and Hamas threats to justify its stance. Yet its grip on key terrain hints at bigger aims, like reviving the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. The U.S. backs this, seeking to weaken Iran, manage Russia, and shape the Middle East conflict to its allies’ favor.
Some see a grim motive. The U.S.-Israeli duo may stoke chaos to test a new regional order where occupation overshadows sovereignty. The “New Détente” with Russia, meant as balance, seems a thin veil for shared gains, leaving Lebanon and Syria as pawns.
What This Means: Occupation’s Lasting Echoes
Israel’s hold on Lebanon and sway in Syria, with U.S. support, signal enduring instability. Katz’s “green light” claim, Sa’ar’s “strategic high points,” and Khouri’s “land grab” warning reveal the truth: promises of withdrawal fade against concrete outposts and airstrikes.
For more on U.S. policy shifts, see Thought Smash’s Syria analysis. Explore Lebanon’s ceasefire fallout in our recent piece. External sources include Middle East Forum on Israeli lobbying.
