Syrian President Bashar Assad reportedly offered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a comprehensive deal that would include a Syrian demilitarized zone stretching 40 kilometers into Syria from its border with Israel.  This unprecedented move presumably resulted from Israel threatening to destroy all Iranian and Iranian-backed military forces and facilities within 40 km (25 miles) from its border with Syria.  In recent months, Iranian-backed forces have repeatedly tried to encroach into the Golan Heights in northern Israel, and the IDF has launched air and ground attacks to eliminate the threats.  Recently, Assad told Russian Premier Vladimir Putin during talks in Russia that he would agree to a Syrian demilitarized zone to prevent such attacks.  Israel, however, is said to still remain committed to destroying the Iranian and Hezbollah forces.  It is obvious that this region has become a tinderbox, which is ripe for a sudden explosion that could have widespread consequences.  Source: Jerusalem Post