Mohammad Hannon/AP/Press Association. All rights reserved.There is a strange relationship between Israel and a small sect of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) based next to the Golan Heights. The very presence of a group like ISIS so close to Israel poses many questions.

Firstly why has ISIS not attacked Israel – a country they have sworn to destroy – from said base? Similarly why has the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) not attacked this small and weak group of extremists on their border? The answers to such questions show the truth behind the rhetoric all actors use in this conflict.

The Yarmouk valley is wedged between Jordan, Syria and the Israeli-occupied territories of the Golan Heights. The valley consists of a few small towns, the majority of which are now controlled by the ISIS affiliated Liwa Shuhada al-Yarmouk or the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade (YMB). This group was established by Mohammad al-Baridi, known by his nickname 'The Uncle' in 2012 in southwest Syria. The group started off relatively moderate, with a close alliance to the Free Syrian Army. But the moderation quickly dissipated during the course of the Syrian civil war.

The start of 2013 saw the YMB gain power in the Yarmouk Valley. The YMB in 2013 started to have military clashes with Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian al-Qaeda group who held the power in the Daraa governorate (the southwest governorate of Syria). This led to the assassination of al-Baridi by al-Nusra in November 2015. During this time, the group carved out a small area for themselves on the fringe of the Daraa governorate next to the Golan Heights. YMB continued to distance themselves from al-Nusra, while still promoting conservative Islamic laws.

The YMB in 2015 began implementing Islamist reforms through the islah policy. The policy was implemented under al-Baridi and sought to ‘correct’ the policies of the previous regime. This included the creation of an Islamic court and police force. YMB also changed the name of its department of governance to Diwan al-Hisba, Diwan translating to the regional name for ISIS. The group even changed their logo to incorporate the ISIS flag. By the end of 2015 YMB became a sub-group of ISIS, only a stone’s throw away from Israel.

The YMB alliance means that ISIS now shares a border with Israel, yet they have not acted on this. In one of al-Baghdadi’s speeches he discussed Israel, however he only referred to the area as 'Palestine', probably in an effort to avoid indirectly acknowledging statehood through using the term 'Israel'. Al-Baghdadi reminded the Jews in 'Palestine' that ISIS “has not forgotten you.” Such messages from al-Baghdadi are very rare; this one was presumably made due to internal pressure in ISIS to reaffirm its anti-Israel stance. He then went on to say that “with the help of Allah, we [ISIS] are getting closer to you [Israel] every day." This is puzzling, for ISIS has an armed group of fighters next door to Israel, to get any closer would mean they would be literally inside the country. So why has ISIS not followed through on their threats and invaded?

ISIS are significantly more likely to attack the weak then the strong. While there are some reports that the YMB have an armoured division looted from campaigns in Daraa they still predominantly use small arms and homemade explosives. ISIS is currently being pressed on all fronts; if they have to choose between attacking Israel and attacking a largely civilian area in the already decimated Deir ez-Zur province, historically they have picked the latter. Yet that does not explain Israel’s reaction to ISIS' possession of such a threatening territory.

The YMB have already provoked international outrage. In 2013 the YMB kidnapped some 20 Filipino United Nation peacekeepers. They held them for two weeks before releasing them. However YMB kidnapped these peacekeepers from inside Israeli occupied territories. While YMB was only loosely affiliated with ISIS in 2013 there have been no repercussions for an Islamic militant group infiltrating an Israeli buffer-zone and kidnapping UN peacekeepers. Israel has shown in the past it is willing to attack groups on its borders that it perceives as a threat.

Israel has during the Syria civil war authorised airstrikes in Syria multiple times. These airstrikes however have aimed not at ISIS, nor al-Nusra or other Sunni jihadist groups. These strikes have overwhelmingly been targeted at the assets of Shia-affiliated groups, predominantly Hezbollah.

Israel in September 2014 also shot down a Syrian Air Force fighter jet for straying into Golan airspace: the first time since the 1973 Arab–Israeli war that the IDF has attacked Syria’s official military. Israel has shown during the Syrian civil war that it is willing to attack those who threaten its territorial integrity – but not ISIS.

The YMB has entered Israeli-held territory, yet there has been no reported conflict between the two groups. In fact there have been reports by Foreign Policy Magazine claiming that far from fighting the militias on the Golan boarder, Israel has been providing health care to the militants. Around 1,000 Syrians within fourteen months have been given treatment, according to Lt. Col. Peter Lerner. The Lt. Col. went on to say, “we don’t do any vetting or check where they are from or which group they are fighting for, or whether they are civilians.”

There seems to be very different treatment for rebel groups on the south of the Golan Heights border than for those in the north. But why would Israel, which authorised multiple bombings on Syrian militant groups, take such a relaxed view towards ISIS on their doorstep?

Israel is focused not on ISIS and Sunni groups, but on the Shia groups in Syria. Israel's airstrikes have hit Assad’s Shia-backed regime and Hezbollah, not ISIS or al-Nusra. Correspondence between the then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and political advisor Jacob Sullivan about Israel’s aims in the region tried to rationalise why Israel ignores ISIS.

In 2012 at the start of the conflict, Sullivan said that there was “a positive side to the civil war in Syria.” This so-called ‘positive side’ to a war that has cost some 400,000 lives was that, “if the Assad regime topples, Iran would lose its only ally in the Middle East and would be isolated.” This would please Israel, which under the Netanyahu government has fixated on the perceived Iranian threat. A war which destabilizes Iran’s ally, Assad, would benefit Israeli interests. This Machiavellian belief could explain why ISIS is not focused on. The Iranian backed Shia militias are the biggest concern for Israel, not extremist groups such as ISIS.

A senior Israel military advisor when asked about Israeli policy in the Syrian civil war apparently quoted Sun Tzu, saying “he will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” This is a sentiment that is followed by ISIS and Israel alike. ISIS knows it is too weak to fight Israel and Israel is concerned with enemies it thinks are worse. The Yarmouk Valley is on one of the most contested borders in the world, controlled by one of the most aggressive and disliked military forces, and is next to a country notorious for being extremely conscientious about its border security, all taking place in a warzone where violence is expected.

Despite all this, the Yarmouk Valley is still run by ISIS, left alone by Israel and is a testament to the complex, cynical and calculated machinations of the actors in this conflict.

Conspiracy theorists don come again

SeeWahala:
Conspiracy theorists don come again

Exactly. These are Israeli media itself. You should educate yourself

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2017-06-19/ty-article/israel-reportedly-providing-direct-aid-to-syrian-rebels/0000017f-f06c-d223-a97f-fdfdfef50000&ved=2ahUKEwjM07ee_MSDAxUDXvEDHZXWCOEQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2CrHcJroF_-Xk-_jVU-zUF

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/isis-and-israel-on-golan-heights/

Truthday:


Exactly. These are Israeli media itself. You should educate yourself

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2017-06-19/ty-article/israel-reportedly-providing-direct-aid-to-syrian-rebels/0000017f-f06c-d223-a97f-fdfdfef50000&ved=2ahUKEwjM07ee_MSDAxUDXvEDHZXWCOEQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2CrHcJroF_-Xk-_jVU-zUF

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/isis-and-israel-on-golan-heights/

I'm already educated bro. It's all a conspiracy to make us hate isreal.

It can never work

Cause ISIS took responsibility for the deadly bomb in Iran, terrorist sympathizers are looking for every means to Link Isreal with ISIS. Two can play the game. If Iran funds terrorist Hamas and Hesbolah to fight proxy war against Isreal, then Isreal too has the right to fund ISIS to curtail Iran's excesses.

Dis Muslim ofe mmanu boy is becoming more nuisance everyday

What you should ask first as Isreal ever debunked it support for ISIS ?

When USA was on all out war against ISIS with various countries participating in the coalition what was Isreal role and why did he not have a single soldier in that coalition ?

SeeWahala:


I'm already educated bro. It's all a conspiracy to make us hate isreal.

It can never work

At least this admittance is beta than denying what is glaring foolishly.

Fibonacci88:
Cause ISIS took responsibility for the deadly bomb in Iran, terrorist sympathizers are looking for every means to Link Isreal with ISIS. Two can play the game. If Iran funds terrorist Hamas and Hesbolah to fight proxy war against Isreal, then Isreal too has the right to fund ISIS to curtail Iran's excesses.

If you know you know.

Are you surprised?

America created alqaeda to fight the ussr in Afghanistan. Bin Laden used to be CIA asset.

They also created isis to cut down governments backed by Russia and China in the middle East.

Nigerian Muslims haters would foolishly tag any attack as Islamic terrorism, they will never bother to know why America have military basis and spies all over the world, when they should only secure the territorial integrity of their country.

SeeWahala:


I'm already educated bro. It's all a conspiracy to make us hate isreal.

It can never work

You missed the last part of the post... especially the bolded part that's says

"Despite all this, the Yarmouk Valley is still run by ISIS, left alone by Israel and is a testament to the complex, cynical and calculated machinations of the actors in this conflict.

Nobody is going to make anybody hate Israel.
The whole world hates Jews (although for no reason except for a conspiracy theory (protocols of the elders of Zion) that claimed Jews planned to dominate the world and introduce one world order (something many conspiracy theorists still believe is in motion as we speak)
Forget the wokeness they are displaying now
Why did Europe create Israel? It's to solve it European jewsish problem
Lord Balfour declaration was seen as a solution to a big problem and that's the reason all European countries and America poured money and investment into Israel and built it's army to be one of the strongest in the region so that they can be free of the Jewish problems
And have been supporting Israel with the sole aim of ensuring that Jews don't find themselves flooding Europe again (although ironically now replaced by Arabs Muslims from Africa and Asia)

This conflict has so many dimensions that most of us onlookers from out side don't really understand. We are better off not talking sides but if you have to take sides do so with conviction and not because of herd mentality

Are u nt tired?

You guys should stop your delusions.
ISIS is purely Islamic just like boko haram. They draw their inspiration and ideology from the teachings of muhamed.
Stop hiding from plain truth. Blind Idiots.

This is the discussion of brainwashed people.
Just because you hate israel,Isreal is now the cause of every bad thing that happens in the Middle East.
This is the stupid mindset that makes them desire the annihilation of the state of Israel.
Make UNA continue to cry.

Israel also created Islam and Muhammad to destabilize the Middle East

It's unfortunate isis is only following islamic teachings

But why don't we talk about how israel is funding Saudi Arabia too in the Sunni vs Shai hatred which spurs isis

alpharoyalty:
You guys should stop your delusions.
ISIS is purely Islamic just like boko haram. They draw their inspiration and ideology from the teachings of muhamed.
Stop hiding from plain truth. Blind Idiots.

israel created boko haram abi you don't know

What's wrong in the enemy of my enemy been my friend...!!

Survival is the key word....if Iran can use hezbollah and hamas for proxy against Israel and the west twhy can't Israel use isis too against them?

Hypocrisy smelling everywhere...!!!

NzogbuNzogbu:
israel created boko haram abi you don't know

Keep deceiving us.

alpharoyalty:
You guys should stop your delusions.
ISIS is purely Islamic just like boko haram. They draw their inspiration and ideology from the teachings of muhamed.
Stop hiding from plain truth. Blind Idiots.

If you seek to be educated you will. I pray you get educated

NzogbuNzogbu:
Israel also created Islam and Muhammad to destabilize the Middle East

It's unfortunate isis is only following islamic teachings

But why don't we talk about how israel is funding Saudi Arabia too in the Sunni vs Shai hatred which spurs isis

Islam has thrived for over 1500 years dominating not only middle East, but europe, balkans, South and south east Asia. Get educated.