Israel's Renewed Airstrikes Heighten Tensions in Syria

Recent airstrikes by Israel targeting facilities in Syria follow demands for demilitarization, prompting strong responses from Syria's new leadership.

In a continuation of its military campaign, Israel has executed fresh airstrikes along Syria's coast alongside ground operations in the southern region. These assaults, described by Israel as crucial for its national security, come in the wake of increased tensions with Syria's newly established government.

On Monday night, Israeli forces specifically targeted a weapons storage facility located in Qardaha, the hometown of ousted president Bashar al-Assad. This town lies close to a significant Russian military base near Latakia. Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported an absence of immediate casualties from the strikes.

Shortly after, Israeli troops conducted ground raids in two towns within southern Syria, disrupting transportation routes and searching military locations before detonating warehouses and subsequently retreating. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring organization, documented these incursions.

These attacks occurred just a week following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for the "complete demilitarization" of key areas in southern Syria, a request aimed at securing the region from forces affiliated with the new Syrian regime. Since the fall of Assad's administration in December due to a rapid rebel advance, Israeli forces have engaged in numerous airstrikes aimed at preventing the transfer of weapons to groups viewed as potential threats.

Israel's military presence has expanded into a UN-monitored demilitarized zone along its border with Syria, spurring concerns among local populations about the possibility of a longer-term military occupation. The Syrian government, now under new leadership, has asserted that these Israeli assaults infringe upon its sovereignty. The international community has condemned these operations, with the United Nations insisting in January that Syria's territorial integrity must be preserved.

Amidst rising tensions, clashes occurred between armed factions and Syrian government forces on the outskirts of Damascus last week, prompting Netanyahu to declare military actions to safeguard Syria's Druse minority from the newly established regime—an assertion rejected by both Syrian Druse leaders and government officials.

Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, has consistently stated that the nation does not seek conflict with Israel. During a recent "national dialogue" conference in Damascus, which aimed at forging an inclusive Syrian government, a concluding statement explicitly dismissed any threats from Israel to prevent the presence of Syrian armed forces in the south. However, the future stance of Syria's leadership regarding Israel's requests remains uncertain.