IDF soldier patrol 390.
(photo credit: REUTER/Baz Ratner)
The IDF is not an organization that likes taking unnecessary risks.
So
despite concluding that the chances of a Syrian attack on Israel are low, it
nevertheless chose to prepare itself for the low probability that its assessment
could be wrong.
The military cautiously deployed air defenses around the
country on Wednesday and called up limited numbers of reserves to key military
branches needed to contain the Syrian threat, in light of the imminent US strike
on the Assad regime.
Some members of the public misinterpreted the moves
as a guaranteed sign of trouble approaching, but in fact, they are basic
defensive measures.
It is not the IDF’s defenses that are meant to keep
Israelis safe, but rather, the military’s immense offensive capabilities, which
have grown considerably in recent years and which collectively constitute
effective Israeli deterrence. It is that deterrence that usually dissuades (in
varying degrees) Israel’s enemies, like Hezbollah, Hamas and Syria, from
attacking it.
Thanks to technological enhancements and upgrades in
weapons systems and military platforms in the air, land and sea, the IDF can
strike a dizzying number of targets simultaneously.
Crisis in Syria - full JPost.com coverageWith Military
Intelligence keeping more eyes and ears open to enemy activity than ever before,
the combination of Israel’s firepower and accurate intelligence would spell very
bad news for the Assad regime, should it choose to target Israel in response to
an attack on Syria by the United States.
None of these factors are state
secrets; in fact, the Syrian dictator is well aware of the IDF’s capabilities,
which is why defense officials are quite confident he will not commence
hostilities against Israel; doing so would likely sign his regime’s death
certificate.
In light of the above, the army’s advice to the general
public remains consistent and simple: Keep calm and carry on.