In brief
The airstrikes coincide with an expansion of Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights amidst rising tensions following the Assad government's collapse.
Israel executed a significant series of airstrikes on Syria’s coastal regions overnight, targeting former Syrian army positions as part of its ongoing military operations to prevent the emergence of rebel control after the recent upheaval in the country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated that these strikes were among the most aggressive in the area since 2012, with reports of up to 18 successive airstrikes hitting critical military infrastructure such as air defense sites and missile storage facilities. Prior to the coastal blitz, the Israeli air force also launched a strike on military radars at Deir al-Zour airport in eastern Syria, further demonstrating a focused effort to disable the Syrian military’s capabilities. Observers noted that the sequential nature of the strikes resulted in significant repercussions, with explosions from stored munitions causing additional blasts. While Israel's military has refrained from commenting on these latest assaults, Israeli officials have previously characterized their operations in Syria as a necessary measure to prevent advanced weaponry from falling into the hands of extremist factions now that the Assad regime has lost its grip on power.The Observatory reports that since early December, Israeli forces have conducted over 450 strikes, targeting airbases, ammunition sites, and Syria’s navy. This marks a dramatic escalation in military action, especially given the backdrop of an Israeli government decision to accelerate settlement expansion efforts in the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied since 1967.Speaking to media, Ahmed al-Shara, a leader of the new rebel coalition government in Syria, criticized Israel's military actions, labeling them as unjustifiable territorial incursions. He urged for a focus on reconstruction and stability, emphasizing that Syria, exhausted by years of conflict, could not afford further military confrontations.The situation remains fluid as the international community watches closely, concerned about the implications these continued hostilities will have on regional stability and diplomatic relations in the Middle East.
