Israeli warplanes have reportedly carried out hundreds of airstrikes across Syria, including in the capital, Damascus, following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), more than 310 airstrikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been documented since Sunday.
The targets of these strikes have primarily been Syrian military facilities, including weapon warehouses, ammunition depots, airports, naval bases, and research centers. Israel asserts that the aim of these actions is to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of extremist groups as Syria enters a post-Assad era.
The SOHR noted that the airstrikes have spanned multiple regions, including Aleppo, Damascus, and Hama. Over 60 of these attacks occurred overnight between Monday and Tuesday. Reports indicate that many of the targeted facilities have not only been damaged but completely destroyed.
Rami Abdul Rahman, the founder of the SOHR, described the strikes as having decimated the Syrian army’s capabilities, adding that “Syrian lands are being violated.” However, the IDF has denied reports that its troops have crossed into Syrian territory, with a spokesperson telling the BBC that claims of Israeli tanks near Damascus are “false.” The spokesperson confirmed that Israeli forces remain stationed within the demilitarized buffer zone, as previously stated.
On Monday, the Israeli military released images showing its troops crossing from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights into the demilitarized zone, where UN peacekeepers are based. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the IDF’s position in the zone as a “temporary defensive measure until a suitable arrangement is reached.”
Netanyahu added, “If we can establish neighborly and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in Syria, that’s our desire. But if not, we will do whatever it takes to defend the State of Israel and its borders.”
Regarding the airstrikes, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized that Israel’s primary concern is defending its citizens. He stated that Israel targets strategic weapons systems, such as chemical weapons stockpiles and long-range missiles, to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists.
On Monday, the UN’s chemical weapons watchdog issued a warning to Syrian authorities to ensure the safety of suspected chemical weapons stockpiles. While the exact number and location of these stockpiles remain unknown, it is believed that the regime of Bashar al-Assad retained such weapons.
These Israeli airstrikes follow the recent capture of Damascus by Syrian rebel forces, which led to the fall of Assad’s regime. The Islamist opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered the capital in the early hours of Sunday and declared Syria “free” on state television. Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez al-Assad, had ruled Syria since 1971.
