Israeli airstrikes have intensified across Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, with dozens of attacks reported, including strikes in the capital, Damascus.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) recorded more than 100 strikes on military targets in the past two days.
Among the sites targeted was a research facility linked to chemical weapon production, according to Syrian media. Israel’s government has justified the strikes, stating they aim to prevent weapons from falling “into the hands of extremists” amid Syria’s political upheaval.
This comes as Syrian rebel forces, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of Damascus early Sunday, marking the end of Assad’s decades-long rule. The rebels have pledged to publish a list of senior officials allegedly involved in war crimes and have offered rewards for information on military officers accused of torturing Syrian citizens.
On Monday, the UN Security Council convened to discuss the situation in Syria. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stressed the importance of maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity, protecting civilians, and ensuring humanitarian aid delivery. The UN’s chemical watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), warned Syria to secure suspected stockpiles of chemical weapons, citing their indiscriminate and illegal use.
Despite Syria’s 2013 declaration of its chemical weapon stockpile, attacks involving chemical agents have persisted. The OPCW called on Syria to prioritize the safety of these materials amidst the ongoing turmoil.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces temporarily seized parts of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights, citing security concerns. The area, captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, has been a source of international tension, particularly after the U.S. recognized Israeli sovereignty over the region in 2019.
Netanyahu called the downfall of the Assad regime a “historic day in the Middle East” and expressed willingness to establish peaceful relations with emerging Syrian forces. However, Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasised Israel’s intent to destroy heavy weapon systems to protect its borders.
Israel’s strikes have intensified amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah and cross-border attacks from Lebanon and Syria. The SOHR reported that Israeli attacks last month killed 68 fighters, including Iranian-linked militia members. With Hezbollah focused on the Israel-Gaza conflict and Russia’s resources diverted to Ukraine, Syrian rebel groups capitalized on the power vacuum to expand their control.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s defensive posture in Syria, stating, “If we can establish neighborly relations with new forces, that’s our desire. But if not, we will do whatever it takes to defend Israel.”
The collapse of Assad’s regime, supported for years by Russia and Hezbollah, marks a significant shift in the region, with Israel closely monitoring developments in neighboring Syria as the rebels consolidate power.
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