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Edited by: Fern Sidman
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have executed a dramatic escalation in their military operations in Syria, conducting over 300 airstrikes since Sunday, marking the most intensive air campaign by Israel since the Yom Kippur War of 1973. According to a report on Monday on the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) website, these strikes follow the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose five-decade family rule ended this past weekend in a dramatic turn of events.
Citing Ynet, JNS reported that the strikes primarily targeted Syrian Air Force bases, including squadrons of fighter jets, with the goal of neutralizing Syria’s aerial capabilities. Western intelligence sources suggest that the Syrian Air Force could be completely dismantled within days. This move echoes Israel’s strategy during the Six-Day War of 1967, when its forces destroyed the Egyptian Air Force in a surprise attack.
Local security sources confirmed to Reuters that key military installations housing helicopters and jets were struck in what the JNS report described as “the largest wave of strikes on Syria’s Air Force” since Assad’s ousting. According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 100 strikes took place on Monday alone, including an attack on a suspected chemical weapons production site.
Reuters also reported that IAF jets sunk several Syrian military vessels in their home port. The IDF confirmed on Tuesday morning that the Israeli Navy conducted an extensive operation to destroy the entire Syrian naval fleet.
“The attack was carried out using Navy missile ships, during which numerous Syrian naval vessels carrying dozens of sea-to-sea missiles were destroyed in the Minet el-Beida area and the Port of Latakia,” the IDF stated.
The IDF added that the operation was carried out to stop the fleet’s assets “from falling into the hands of hostile elements.”
The Jewish News Syndicate highlighted additional reports of loud explosions in Damascus early Tuesday morning, with outlets such as AFP and Al Jazeera attributing these blasts to Israeli airstrikes. While the IDF has not officially commented on the operations, the scale and intensity of the attacks underline Israel’s strategic objective of dismantling potential threats to its national security.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed that the strikes targeted facilities producing chemical weapons and long-range missiles. He emphasized that the operation was designed to prevent these strategic weapons from falling into the hands of extremist groups amidst the power vacuum created by Assad’s departure.
“We attacked strategic weapons systems, like, for example, remaining chemical weapons or long-range missiles and rockets, in order that they will not fall into the hands of extremists,” Sa’ar told the AP. He reiterated that Israel’s only concern in this operation is ensuring the security of its citizens and maintaining regional stability.
JNS further noted Sa’ar’s refusal to disclose operational specifics, reflecting Israel’s customary policy of operational ambiguity.
The strikes come in the wake of Bashar Assad’s dramatic flight from Damascus on Sunday as rebel forces stormed the capital, effectively ending his regime. According to the Jewish News Syndicate, a rebel spokesperson announced the overthrow on state television, declaring, “The tyrant Bashar Assad has been overthrown.”
The sudden collapse of Assad’s government has left a volatile power vacuum, raising concerns over the future control of Syria’s military assets, including its chemical weapons stockpile. Israel’s swift and decisive military campaign highlights its determination to prevent these weapons from being used against its population.
The JNS report drew parallels between this campaign and Israel’s historic preemptive strikes during the Six-Day War of 1967, where the IDF effectively neutralized its enemies’ air forces within hours. The current operation similarly aims to eliminate threats before they can materialize, particularly in a region teetering on the edge of further instability.
The massive air campaign has drawn international attention, with outlets such as AFP and Al Jazeera reporting on the scale of the strikes. However, Israel’s focus remains resolutely inward. As the JNS report emphasized, Israeli officials have reiterated that these operations are solely aimed at ensuring the security of the Jewish state.
The IDF’s actions in Syria represent a critical moment not only for Israeli defense strategy but also for the broader geopolitics of the Middle East. With Assad gone and a volatile mix of factions vying for power, Israel’s proactive measures signal its readiness to address emerging threats decisively and effectively.
The unprecedented air campaign launched by the IDF is a stark reminder of Israel’s strategic priorities in a region rife with unpredictability. As the Jewish News Syndicate has reported, the strikes are not just a reaction to Assad’s ouster but a calculated move to protect Israel from the chaos that often follows regime change.
In a bold escalation of its security measures, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Tuesday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue their systematic destruction of strategic weapons within Syrian territory. This decision, as reported by Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), is aimed at preventing these arms from falling into the hands of terrorist organizations amid the chaotic aftermath of Syrian regime collapses.
The Israeli Defense Ministry confirmed that the IDF has been targeting an array of advanced weapons previously held by the Syrian regime and Iranian-backed militias. According to JNS, these include surface-to-air missiles, air defense systems, surface-to-surface missiles, cruise missiles, long-range rockets, and coast-to-sea missiles. Katz emphasized the urgent need to neutralize these weapons, illustrating the risk they pose if acquired by extremist groups operating in the region.
In addition to striking weapons caches, Katz has directed the IDF to establish a strategic buffer zone beyond the existing Israel-Syria border buffer. The initiative, led by the 210th “Bashan” Division, involves proactive operations aimed at protecting residents of Israel’s Golan Heights. The IDF’s mission is to create an area free of strategic weapons and terror infrastructure, ensuring enhanced security for northern Israel.
According to the information provided in the JNS report, Katz has also instructed the military to assert full control over the demilitarized buffer zone established under the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. This agreement, signed in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War, delineated a neutral area between Israel and Syria. However, with the Syrian army abandoning its posts, Israel has declared the agreement effectively nullified, citing Syria’s inability to enforce its terms.
In a significant development reported by both JNS and corroborated by Reuters, IDF tanks have advanced to positions approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Qatana, a town 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Damascus. This marks a considerable expansion of Israel’s operational footprint in Syria, calling attention to its commitment to maintaining security along its northern border.
Jerusalem has reportedly informed Washington of its intentions, describing the actions as “temporary and tactical operations” designed to protect Israeli civilians from terrorist threats. A U.S. government source, speaking to Israel’s Kan News, expressed tacit approval, stating, “No nation can tolerate terror groups on its doorstep.”
The source also acknowledged Israel’s measures to stabilize the buffer zone, recognizing that Syria’s enforcement of the 1974 ceasefire agreement had collapsed. Washington hopes for future stability in the region but has not opposed Israel’s immediate actions, including its reported plans to take control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and surrounding buffer zones.
According to the JNS report, the IDF’s operations represent a calculated effort to mitigate emerging threats in the wake of Syria’s internal disarray. The Syrian regime’s collapse has created a power vacuum that extremist groups are eager to exploit, necessitating swift and decisive action by Israel.
By targeting advanced weapon systems and securing its northern border, Israel seeks to prevent the proliferation of strategic arms and ensure that terrorist groups cannot establish a foothold near its territory. The ongoing operations shed light on Israel’s proactive approach to safeguarding its sovereignty and citizens.
As was reported, the IDF’s expanded operations in Syria reflect Israel’s unwavering commitment to its national security. Defense Minister Katz’s directive to dismantle strategic weapons and assert control over volatile border areas is a direct response to the shifting dynamics in Syria.
With Washington signaling its support and the IDF making significant advances near Damascus, Israel has demonstrated both resolve and precision in addressing the threats posed by the Syrian conflict. The situation remains fluid, but for now, Israel’s actions are reshaping the regional landscape in favor of stability and security.
In a high-stakes address at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning to the newly established Syrian jihadist regime. As reported by JNS, Netanyahu made clear that any alliance between the new regime and Iran—or any action threatening Israel—would prompt swift and forceful retaliation.
“If this regime allows Iran to regain its foothold in Syria—or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah—or attacks us, we will respond forcefully, and we will exact a heavy price from it,” Netanyahu stated. He further warned that the fate of the Assad regime, which was toppled over the weekend, could serve as a cautionary tale for the new government.
While Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has no interest in interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, he underscored that national security concerns would dictate any necessary actions. To that end, he confirmed authorizing the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to bomb strategic military assets left behind by the Syrian army to prevent them from falling into the hands of jihadists.
The strikes have primarily targeted Syrian air force bases, with entire squadrons of fighter jets rendered inoperable. Western intelligence sources cited by JNS estimate that the Syrian Air Force could be completely dismantled within days, significantly reducing the potential threat posed by the incoming Syrian government.
Netanyahu likened this strategy to the British Royal Navy’s preemptive bombing of the Vichy French fleet during World War II to prevent its use by Nazi Germany. This historical parallel underscores the urgency with which Israel views the current threat landscape.
In addition to its aerial campaign, the IDF has deployed troops to the demilitarized buffer zone along the Israel-Syria border. As was reported by JNS, the objective of this move is to prevent jihadist forces from establishing a foothold too close to Israeli territory. The buffer zone, established under the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, has taken on renewed strategic importance in light of Syria’s ongoing instability.
Netanyahu has characterized the fall of the Assad regime as a “dramatic chapter in the history of the Middle East.” Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he celebrated the collapse of what he called “a central link in Iran’s axis of evil,” attributing it to Israel’s relentless military pressure on Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Netanyahu framed the downfall of the Assad regime as a direct result of Israel’s broader efforts to dismantle Iran’s “path of terror,” which spans from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. The JNS report highlighted his description of this path as a systematic attempt by Iran and its proxies to establish an axis of influence through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
Despite his warnings, Netanyahu extended an olive branch to the new Syrian regime, expressing a desire for “good neighborliness” between the two countries. “We want relations with the new regime in Syria,” he said, indicating Israel’s openness to stability and cooperation if the regime refrains from threatening actions or alliances.
With global attention fixed on Syria following Assad’s ouster, tensions flared at the United Nations as Russia called for a Security Council meeting on Monday to scrutinize Israel’s actions in the region. As reported by JNS, the meeting highlighted the complexities of the unfolding situation, with Moscow zeroing in on Israel’s military presence in the Golan Heights and the status of the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
According to the information in the JNS report, Russia’s push for the meeting sought to spotlight Israel’s activities in the “area of separation,” a 155-square-mile buffer zone established in 1974 as part of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria. This zone, monitored by UNDOF’s 1,100 peacekeeping troops, has traditionally been free of military activity beyond that of the U.N. force.
Syrian ambassador Koussay Aldahhak joined Moscow’s call, urging the Security Council to condemn what he described as Israeli “aggression” in the region. Speaking to reporters, Aldahhak demanded an end to Israeli military actions and insisted that Israel should not exploit Syria’s transitional moment to solidify its position in the area.
In response, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon penned a letter to the Security Council ahead of the closed-door session, as indicated in the JNS report. Danon explained that Israel’s actions were “limited and temporary measures” aimed at countering threats in the area of separation.
Danon emphasized that Israeli forces had entered the zone only after repelling a rebel attack on UNDOF personnel. Their ongoing presence, he stated, was necessary to address immediate security risks, including the potential proliferation of chemical and conventional weapons to unknown rebel groups.
Danon reiterated Israel’s commitment to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, emphasizing that the IDF’s presence on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights was a short-term precautionary measure to stabilize the region and protect Israeli territory from potential spillover violence.
Robert Wood, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., affirmed Washington’s support for Israel’s actions, telling reporters that the United States had “no reason to question” Israel’s assertion that its presence in the buffer zone was temporary.
Wood also emphasized the importance of safeguarding the fragile progress made in Syria, noting that the recent changes in leadership offered Syrians a rare opportunity to experience relief from the Assad regime’s brutal rule.
JNS reported that Aldahhak, speaking on behalf of the Syrian government, called on the international community to pressure Israel into halting its military operations. He claimed that the Israeli strikes and troop movements undermined Syria’s sovereignty during a critical transitional period. Despite the chaos in Damascus, Aldahhak reported receiving instructions from his government to persist in diplomatic efforts against Israel.
The meeting also addressed broader issues related to Syria’s future, including humanitarian needs, refugee resettlement, and the prospects for a political resolution. The JNS report highlighted the diverse concerns raised by council members, who sought updates on the rapidly changing situation on the ground.
Danon, for his part, expressed hope that Syrians could seize this moment to experience freedom from decades of Assad’s oppressive rule. However, he warned that Israel would not hesitate to act if the new regime allowed hostile actors, particularly Iran, to regain a foothold in Syria.
