The alliance radically changes the balance of power in the North, because it means in any future confrontation the IDF will be faced with attacks from both the northern and northeastern borders.
The IDF was surprised by Hizbullah’s level of organization during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Syrian assistance in intelligence gathering would give the Shi’ite organization a technological advantage that would bring it even closer to the level of an organized military.
During the 2006 war, Israel warned Syria not to intervene, and it avoided clashing with the IDF. According to the new pact, each of the parties will rush to assist the other in case of confrontation with Israel.
In Damascus, Syrian President Bashar Assad urged Lebanon’s leader to support Hizbullah and maintain calm in the country.
Assad met with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the Syrian capital for a predawn suhour meal, the last meal before the daytime fast resumes during Ramadan, the Syrian state-run news agency reported.
Hariri has visited Damascus repeatedly this year, in a sign of Syria’s renewed influence over Lebanon. Hariri’s visits indicate that he needs Syrian support as his Western-backed coalition struggles at home.
Syria backs Hizbullah, which has a large role in Lebanon’s fragile national unity government.
Last week, street battles in Beirut between the Shi’ite Hizbullah and a small Sunni group resulted in the deaths of three people.Jpost