The geopolitical chessboard of the Middle East is in motion, and Israel is making a bold series of moves to secure its position. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the successful campaign against Hezbollah has opened up the board, allowing for a strategic advance that includes peace talks with Syria and a new gambit in Lebanon.
The most significant move is the direct engagement with Syria’s new leadership. The removal of the hostile Assad “king” from the board has allowed for a new game of negotiation and potential alliance. A Syrian official has confirmed that the two sides are working toward a final agreement on security by year’s end.
In Lebanon, Israel’s move is to keep Hezbollah’s pieces in check through continued military pressure. This has forced the Lebanese government to make its own move, advancing its “pawn” of the national army to begin the process of taking control of the board from the militia.
Netanyahu, as the grandmaster, explained his strategy. “Our victories… have opened a window,” he said, describing how one set of moves has created opportunities across the entire northern half of the board. He confirmed his advance on the Syrian front has made “some progress.”
The endgame Israel is playing for is a complete checkmate against the forces of instability. A demilitarized zone with Syria and a sovereign Lebanon would secure the board, transforming the strategic landscape in Israel’s favor for the foreseeable future.
