Reporters Notebook: Along the Syria buffer zone where the threat is far from over
For now, there appears to be little appetite to withdraw from the buffer zone, largely because of lingering questions over whether Syria’s new president is truly capable of controlling the country
Assessment
The Israeli military's reluctance to exit the Syria buffer zone signals deep uncertainty about the new president's capacity to govern effectively. The core issue is whether any real authority has stabilized Damascus, or whether the fragmentation of power around Syria's borders remains unchanged. This caution suggests a prolonged Israeli presence along the frontier.