Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Syria, targeting advanced weaponry and military assets, according to Arab media reports since Assad’s fall.
The Israeli military has also seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria, citing the need to prevent instability in the region from spreading into the border area.
The conflict between Israel and Syria can be traced back to the Isreal-Arabic war in 1948, with Israel expressing concerns about the presence of Iranian forces and Hezbollah militants in Syria. The recent downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad has created a power vacuum, which Israel sees as both a danger and an opportunity to disrupt Iran’s ability to smuggle weapons through Syria to Hezbollah.
On Monday, December 9, 2024, Israel launched airstrikes on three airbases in Syria, targeting sites near Damascus, Homs, and Qamishli. The Israeli military also warned Syrians living in five villages: Ofaniya, Quneitra, al-Hamidiyah, Samdaniya al-Gharbiyya and al-Qahtaniyah, all close to the Israeli-occupied portion of the Golan Heights, to “stay home.” Additionally, Israel has been assisting UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights in repelling an attack by armed individuals.
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Colonel Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesman, said on social media: “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF [Israeli military] to act and we do not intend to harm you.”
Israel’s attacks on Monday targeted fighter jet squadrons, airports, air defense batteries, weapons and ammunition depots, scientific research centers, and missile brigades.
Explosions were heard early Tuesday in Damascus. Overnight, the IDF targeted the Defense Research Institute in Aleppo and the Scientific Research Center on the outskirts of the capital, among other locations. The strikes attack on Tuesday targeted airports and warehouses, complete Russian Mig and Sukhoi fighter squadrons, radars, military signal stations, and multiple weapons and ammunition depots.
According to the UK-based Observatory for Human Rights, Israel has “destroyed the most important military sites in Syria” with around 250 air strikes since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
If you are wondering why is Isreal attacking Syria, It’s worth noting that Israel’s attacks on Syria are not a new development. Israel has been carrying out airstrikes in Syria for several years, and its military has been involved in various conflicts with Iranian-backed forces in the region. The recent fall of the Assad regime has created new dynamics and challenges for Israel, but its core motivations for attacking Syria are :
- Preventing extremist groups from gaining a foothold in the region
- Preventing chemical weapons from falling into extremist hands
- Countering Iranian influence
- Protecting Israeli citizens
- Securing the Golan Heights: Israel has a strategic interest in maintaining control over the Golan Heights, which it annexed from Syria in 1981.
- Maintaining the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement: Israel has taken control of a buffer zone along the Israeli-Syrian border, known as the Alpha Line, which was established in 1974. Israel has done so to prevent hostile forces from establishing a presence near its border
The international community has condemned Israel’s actions, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq denouncing the seizure of land in Syria as a “dangerous development” and a “flagrant violation of international law.” The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has also accused Israel of “exploiting the power vacuum” in Syria to occupy more territory.
So, what does this all mean? Is Israel right in taking the fight to Syria to protect its borders, or does Israel have other motive? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
