“Destroying all the capabilities of the Syrian army
Agencies
Damascus: Israeli warplanes have reportedly carried out more than 310 airstrikes across Syria since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Sunday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The airstrikes have targeted several key locations across the country, including military facilities in Aleppo, Damascus, and Hama. The attacks, which have included more than 60 airstrikes overnight between Monday and Tuesday, have caused extensive damage to Syrian military assets, including weapon warehouses, ammunition depots, airports, naval bases, and research centres. Many of these facilities have been completely destroyed.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that their forces are operating in Syrian territory beyond the demilitarized buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The IDF has said its strikes are aimed at preventing weapons from falling into the hands of extremists, particularly as Syria enters a post-Assad era. Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesperson, told the media that the Israeli military had not approached Damascus as reports suggested but had deployed forces within the Area of Separation near the Golan Heights.
Rami Abdul Rahman, founder of SOHR, condemned the strikes, describing the impact as “destroying all the capabilities of the Syrian army”. He also stated that “Syrian lands are being violated”. Video evidence of the strikes, including a hit on a Syrian naval port in Latakia, has been verified by the BBC.
The ongoing Israeli operations have raised significant international concerns. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Israel’s military action in the buffer zone, accusing the country of having an “occupying mentality” at a time when Syria is transitioning to a new regime. The Area of Separation was originally established in 1974 following a ceasefire agreement between Syria and Israel to prevent direct military confrontations. While Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, its sovereignty over the region remains unrecognized by most countries, although the US did so in 2019.
