Under the radar: Al-Shara builds a powerful army for regional war

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara is diverting most of the state's resources to building a large regular army and acquiring weapons, instead of investing in infrastructure or citizen welfare. According to IDF assessments, the operational plans are intended for a future attack against Hezbollah and Shiite militias in Iraq. Al-Shara is waiting for the reduction of the American presence in the region. European countries are providing him with aid in hopes of stopping the flow of refugees, and moderate Sunni states are trying to soften his policies. Security sources estimate that a clash with Israel is a matter of time.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara is focusing the regime's efforts on building a large regular army and acquiring weapons systems, diverting most of the state's resources—from tax revenues to international aid—toward this goal, instead of investing in infrastructure, national reconstruction, or the welfare of citizens who have suffered through 15 years of war. According to IDF assessments, al-Shara's operational plans are aimed at the moment when he can strike Hezbollah in Lebanon and the pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq. It is estimated that he is waiting for the right timing: a combination of completing the military buildup and a reduction of the American military presence in the region, particularly in Iraq. Against the backdrop of this military buildup, European countries, led by Germany, are providing aid to the Syrian president in order to stop the flow of refugees. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are investing funds in him to soften his agenda. According to security sources, Israel missed an opportunity to reach an agreement with al-Shara when he was weak, and now the IDF must increase intelligence gathering and prepare operational plans. A future clash, they assess, is a matter of time.