Israel’s military on Wednesday said that it had conducted an extensive campaign of airstrikes across Syria following the ousting of President Bashar Assad. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the strikes, carried out over 48 hours, targeted most of Syria’s strategic weapons stockpiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremist groups.
The IDF said that it had conducted “about 480 strikes in 48 hours”, targeting anti-aircraft batteries, missile depots, airfields, and weapons production facilities in key cities such as Damascus, Homs, and Latakia. “These operations were essential to neutralise threats to civilian and military maritime vessels in the region,” the military said. Naval operations destroyed dozens of long-range missiles and 15 Syrian naval vessels.
Israeli officials denied advancing towards Damascus, maintaining that troops had only entered the long-established buffer zone on Syria’s southern border to secure Israeli territory. “Reports about Israeli tanks advancing towards Damascus are false,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani. However, opposition sources and local media suggested that Israeli troops had reached within 25 kilometres of the Syrian capital.
Defence minister Israel Katz described the strikes as a necessary measure to establish a demilitarised zone in southern Syria. Speaking from Haifa, Katz warned that any forces seeking to emulate Assad’s regime would meet a similar fate. He stressed that Israel aims to prevent the resurgence of terrorism along its borders, particularly from groups such as Hezbollah.
The strikes and Israel’s incursion into Syria’s buffer zone have drawn international condemnation. Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia accused Israel of exploiting Syria’s instability to further its territorial ambitions. Turkey echoed these criticisms, labelling the operations an act of occupation. The United Nations also weighed in, describing the incursion as a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement and urging both nations to honour international commitments.
Meanwhile, Syria is grappling with the aftermath of Assad’s fall. Opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have formed a transitional cabinet under Mohammed al-Bashir. Damascus has seen a cautious return to normalcy, with businesses reopening and residents expressing hope for a new era of stability. However, looting of humanitarian aid and uncertainty about the future persist, leaving many Syrians wary of what lies ahead.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strikes in a video statement, saying that the military campaign was necessary to dismantle the remnants of Assad’s military capabilities. Netanyahu also expressed a willingness to build ties with Syria’s transitional government, signalling a potential shift in Israel’s approach to its neighbour’s ongoing turmoil.