TO Israelthere is no occasion in Near East that goes unnoticed enough not to impose its own interests.Therefore, while Syria falls into chaos and joy after the fall of the regime Bashar al-Assadthe Israeli army is not standing by. During Sunday’s street celebrations, it bombed the heart of Damascus and other parts of Syrian territory, have imposed a curfew to the population of five border villages for alleged fighting in the area and them tanks They advanced to occupy the buffer zone which had remained without an Israeli presence since 1974.
It all started with the bombing of Israeli fighter planes against dozens of objectives throughout Syria.The purpose was presumably destroy weapons which Israel feared could fall into the hands of hostile forces in light of the regime’s dramatic fall less than two weeks after the start of a flash offensive by rebel groups. Defense sources reported this The times of Israel that the “very intensive” attacks aimed to destroy “strategic weapons”. Among them were advanced missile depots, air defense systemsweapons manufacturing facilities and even a site of chemical weapons.
American bombings
Seven targets were attacked in southwestern Syria, two regional security sources told Reuters. The air base of Interruption north of the city of Sueida or Mezzeh in Damascus they were bombed to destroy the ammunition depots that the Syrian army left in its defeat. The capital has also felt the impact of Israeli violence. There, three airstrikes hit a security compound and a Government research center. The sources consulted by the British news agency assure that the attacks caused serious damage to the main city customs office and to buildings adjacent to military intelligence offices within the Damascus security complex,where Israel has accused iranian scientists develop missiles.
But Tel Aviv was not alone in its attacks.Washington has also taken advantage of the new reality in syria, carrying out at least dozens of attacks against the country 75 targets of the Islamic state in the town center on Sunday.At the moment the human and material losses of both bombings are unknown. In turn, on the same Sunday, the Israeli army took control of a buffer zone between the border with Syria in Golan Heights occupied, in what they described as a temporary defensive measure.“We affirm that Israeli forces do not interfere in events occurring in Syria and will continue to act as necessary to preserve the buffer zone and protect the State of Israel and its citizens,” the military spokesperson tweeted in Arabic.Avicay Adraee.
The first time in almost 50 years
This is the first time since the 1974 separation agreement was signed after the Yom Kippur War that Israeli forces take up positions within the buffer zone. “Let us act first and foremost to protect our borders,” the prime minister said. Benjamin Netanyahuduring a visit to the Golan Heights on Sunday. “This area has been controlled for almost 50 years by a buffer zone, agreed in 1974; this deal failed“Syrian soldiers abandoned their positions,” he added, as Israeli tanks crossed the border, according to media reports AxiosIsrael notified to the United States before taking control of the area, telling President Joe Biden’s management that it was a temporary measure that would last only a few days or even a few weeks.
Following this action, the Israeli army asked the inhabitants to five Syrian villages that they shouldn’t go out into the street. “The fighting in their areas forces Israeli forces to move,and we don’t intention to harm them“,Adraee posted on her X account. “For your safety,you must stay at home and do not leave until further notice“he added. Netanyahu confirmed that Jewish troops have taken positions abandoned by their Syrian counterparts, arguing that Israel “will not allow any hostile force be established on our border” in reference to the Syrian rebel groups led by Hayat tahrir al Sham.
Attacks in gaza
Israeli attacks in the heart of Syria are nothing new. Him Syrian Observatory for Human Rights This year alone, 170 attacks have been recorded, 144 airborne and 26 rocket attacks by ground forces. Consequentially,416 fightersof Iranian,Lebanese,Iraqi and Syrian nationality,died and 286 were injured. This Monday the Israeli army announced the death of four reservists on Sunday in an operational accident in the Southern Lebanonwhen the munitions in the Hezbollah tunnel they were in exploded.
In turn, air strikes against the Gaza Strip They didn’t stop, killing around fifty people on Sunday. Moreover, this Monday an Israeli bombing devastated dozens of lives of women and children waiting in a queue for flour distribution amid the food crisis in the Palestinian enclave. Incessant Jewish attacks over the past 14 months have killed 44,758 Palestinians.
What are the implications of Israel’s airstrikes on regional security dynamics in the Middle East?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Middle East Security Expert
time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome, everyone. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Sarah El-Masri, a renowned expert in middle Eastern security affairs. Thank you for joining us, Dr. El-Masri.
Dr. Sarah El-Masri (SE): Thank you for having me. It’s great to be here.
TNE: Let’s dive right into the recent developments in Syria.We’ve seen Israel’s airstrikes targeting various locations following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Can you explain Israel’s motivations behind these actions?
SE: Absolutely. Israel has a vested interest in ensuring that no antagonistic forces gain strategically advantageous weapons as the Syrian regime weakens. The intensity of the airstrikes indicates a clear intention to preemptively neutralize any potential threats, notably advanced missiles or chemical weapons that could fall into the hands of groups that oppose Israel.
TNE: So, you’ve mentioned a preemptive strategy. How do you see this playing out in the broader context of regional security?
SE: It’s a crucial moment for regional dynamics. Israel has historically acted swiftly to protect its national security.By bombing sites linked to advanced weaponry in Syria, they send a message that they will not allow any destabilization to empower adversarial factions. This level of intervention also reflects their concerns about Iranian influence in Syria, where Iran has been implicated in supporting Assad.
TNE: Fascinating. The article also mentioned curfews imposed on border villages and Israeli tanks advancing into areas formerly without their presence.What does this signify?
SE: The curfews and military presence are indicative of Israel’s desire to maintain control over its borders and minimize any spillover from the chaos in Syria. These measures suggest a proactive approach to state security, exacerbated by the fears of a power vacuum that could allow hostile elements to operate closer to Israeli territory.
TNE: In your opinion, how might this escalation affect humanitarian conditions for the Syrian people?
SE: The situation is already dire for civilians in Syria. Increased military activity, whether from Israel or other forces, complicates humanitarian efforts.Curfews and military actions restrict movement and access to aid. Additionally, as areas like Damascus face bombardment, civilian casualties become an unfortunate reality, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis there.
TNE: Given these complexities, what role do international actors, particularly the U.S., play in this ongoing situation?
SE: The U.S.continues to be a significant player in the region, both directly through military operations and indirectly by supporting certain groups.The recent strikes mentioned in your article, particularly targeting syrian military installations, suggest that the U.S. might potentially be tacitly endorsing Israeli operations, viewing them as beneficial to broader security interests against Iranian encroachment. Though, this raises questions about the sustainability of such strategies in the long term.
TNE: how do you envision the future for Israel and Syria in the coming months, considering the ongoing instability?
SE: The next few months will be crucial. If the Assad regime continues to weaken, we could see more aggressive Israeli actions aimed at preventing the destabilization of Lebanon or the Golan Heights. Alternatively, if a new regime emerges that offers peace negotiations, it might usher in a different dynamic. However, given the past context and deep-seated animosities, the path to stability is fraught with challenges.
TNE: Thank you, Dr.El-Masri, for your insightful analysis. This is an incredibly complex situation, and we appreciate your expertise in unpacking it for our audience.
SE: Thank you for having me. It’s vital to keep discussing these critical issues.
TNE: And thank you to our viewers for tuning in. We will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates as they unfold.