Israel Confirms Strikes on Syrian Navy Amid Post-Assad Turmoil
In a significant escalation, Israel has confirmed it launched attacks on Syria’s naval fleet and multiple military sites across the country following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their ships targeted ports in Al-Bayda and Latakia late Monday night, where 15 vessels were docked.
Verified videos obtained by the BBC revealed extensive damage at the port of Latakia, with visuals showing destroyed ships and widespread destruction across the area.
Massive Military Campaign
The IDF disclosed that its air force conducted over 350 airstrikes across Syria, targeting military infrastructure in key cities such as Damascus, Homs, Tartus, and Palmyra. Ground troops were also deployed into the demilitarized buffer zone along the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, declared the campaign a “great success,” emphasizing the goal to dismantle Syria’s “strategic capabilities” that could pose a threat to Israel. Among the destroyed assets were anti-aircraft systems, ammunition depots, airfields, and a stockpile of sea-to-sea missiles.
“The operation is essential to prevent advanced weapons from falling into the hands of extremists,” Katz stated.
Syria in Chaos
The strikes come in the wake of Syria’s Islamist rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrowing Assad’s government. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that over 310 IDF strikes had occurred since Sunday when rebels seized Damascus.
HTS, now the dominant force in Syria, was warned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to allow Iran to re-establish its influence in the region. Netanyahu, while expressing hope for peaceful relations with the new Syrian leadership, vowed Israel would “respond forcefully” to any threats.
Ground Troops in Buffer Zone
For the first time since the 1974 ceasefire, Israeli troops moved beyond the buffer zone separating Syria from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. While the IDF confirmed these deployments, it refuted reports of tanks approaching Damascus.
Images verified by BBC investigators showed IDF soldiers stationed just beyond the demilitarized zone, near the Syrian village of Kwdana. Netanyahu described the troop movements as “temporary defensive measures” and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to safeguarding its borders.
International Reactions
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry criticized Israel’s incursions, calling it an “occupying mentality” during a crucial moment for Syria’s potential stabilization. The buffer zone, established to prevent conflict between Israeli and Syrian forces, has remained a point of contention since Israel’s unilateral annexation of the Golan Heights in 1981, which only the U.S. recognized in 2019.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, defended the strikes, emphasizing the need to neutralize chemical weapons and long-range missiles. “We cannot allow these assets to end up in extremist hands,” Saar explained.
Meanwhile, the UN’s chemical weapons watchdog has urged Syrian authorities to secure any remaining stockpiles. Despite the uncertainty around their location, the legacy of Assad’s chemical weapons program continues to raise concerns.
A New Chapter for Syria
Syria’s future hangs in the balance as HTS consolidates control after seizing Damascus on Sunday. Former President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia, ended a family rule that lasted over five decades.
With the regime’s fall, questions linger about the nation’s stability and the prospect of peace in a war-torn region. For now, Israel remains vigilant, balancing hopes for diplomacy with preparations for continued conflict.
For more updates:
- What’s next for Syria?
- The role of anti-Assad rebels in shaping the future
- Exclusive insights into Israel’s military strategy
