Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12 on Sunday, a rebel commander made no effort to hide the connection between the offensive and Israel’s military success.

“We looked at the [ceasefire] agreement with Hezbollah and understood that this is the time to liberate our lands,” said the officer.

“This operation was critical.
1. We will not let Hezbollah fight in our areas
2. and we will not let the Iranians take root there.”

The rebel commander added that the goal is,
1. to topple the Assad regime
2. and set up a government that has good relations with all its neighbors, including Israel.

Some Hezbollah and Iran-backed Shiite militia fighters were moved from Syria to contend with the Israeli ground invasion in Lebanon in October.

Thousands more were killed and wounded by Israeli air raids, ground forces, and special operations like the stunning attacks in September in which thousands of Hezbollah pagers exploded on their owners..