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The Russian Aerospace Forces have begun aerial patrols along the so-called Bravo Line that divides the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel, the deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria -a division of the Russian Ministry of Defense- announced on January 18.
“To monitor the situation, army aviation units of the Russian Aerospace Forces have organized aerial patrols along the disengagement line separating the armed forces of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic [the Bravo Line],” Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit said.
Israel occupied most of the Golan Heights during the war of 1967 and annexed the strategic territory in violation of international laws later in 1981.
The aerial patrols are the latest in a series of measures the Russian military group in Syria began to take after the outbreak of the war in the Palestinian Gaza Strip -which led to an increase in Israeli attacks on Syria- to de-escalate tensions on the Golan Heights front.
Earlier this month, the Russian Military Police established at least two new observation posts along the Bravo Line. Later, video footage surfaced online showing Russian attack helicopters patrolling the front.
Russia appears to be worried that Israel, frustrated by its inability to score a decisive win against the Hamas Movement in Gaza, may further escalate against Syria.
These worries are legitimate, especially considering Israel’s history of launching attacks against Iran and its allies inside Syria.
Just two days after the Russian Center for Reconciliation announced the beginning of aerial patrols along the Bravo Line, Israel killed a senior intelligence commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps along with four other officers of the guards in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The airstrike that killed the Iranian officers was launched from the direction of the Golan Heights.
While recent Russian steps will not likely put an end to Israeli attacks on Syria, which has been ongoing for over a decade, they will certainly help prevent a serious escalation, like a ground invasion by Israel.
