Israeli defense officials are expressing increasing alarm over efforts to reconstruct the Syrian military, according to a new intelligence assessment that warns of potential security implications for the region.

The report, which has been circulated among senior government and military leadership, indicates that Syrian armed forces have been making significant strides in rebuilding their capabilities following years of civil war that severely degraded the country's military infrastructure and operational readiness.

According to sources familiar with the assessment, Israeli analysts are particularly concerned about the pace and scope of the reconstruction efforts, which could alter the strategic balance along Israel's northern border. The Syrian military, which was once considered one of the most formidable forces in the Arab world, was substantially weakened during more than a decade of internal conflict that began in 2011.

The renewed military capabilities could pose challenges for Israel's freedom of operation in Syrian territory, where the Israeli Air Force has conducted hundreds of strikes in recent years targeting Iranian weapons transfers and military installations. These operations, part of Israel's "campaign between wars" strategy, have been aimed at preventing Iran from establishing a permanent military presence in Syria and transferring advanced weaponry to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli security officials have not publicly commented on the specific details of the report, maintaining the government's policy of strategic ambiguity regarding intelligence assessments. However, the concerns come at a time when regional dynamics are shifting, with various powers seeking to expand their influence in Syria.

The assessment also reportedly examines the role of external actors in supporting Syrian military reconstruction, including potential assistance from Russia and Iran, both of which have maintained significant military presences in Syria throughout the civil war.

Syria and Israel remain technically in a state of war, having never signed a peace treaty. The two countries share a border along the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981, a move not recognized by most of the international community. The region has remained a focal point of strategic concern for Israeli defense planners.