JERUSALEM — Underneath the duvet of darkness, the helicopters from Israel started to reach in southern Syria on Dec. 17, 2024, 9 days after the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad.
Packed alongside pallets of humanitarian assist had been 500 rifles, ammunition and physique armor — all discreetly airdropped by Israel to arm a Druze militia referred to as the Navy Council, in keeping with two former Israeli officers instantly concerned within the effort.
