Israel has seized land along its border with Syria and carried out airstrikes on Damascus in a bid to secure its borders and prevent weapons from falling into the hands of extremists, The Telegraph.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had captured a buffer zone in the Golan Heights after Syrian troops abandoned their positions, and rebel fighters infiltrated the UN-monitored area. This military action came after a surprise rebel offensive led to the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria.
Netanyahu explained that the move was necessary to protect Israeli citizens and prevent hostile forces from occupying territory near the Israeli border. As part of this defensive action, Israeli fighter jets bombarded weapons sites in Damascus, including the Mazzeh district and the Khalkhala air base, which had been abandoned by Syrian forces. These sites were believed to contain a large stockpile of missiles, rockets, and chemical weapons, as reported by The Telegraph.
The airstrikes also targeted a security complex and a government research center that had previously been used by Iran for missile development. The attacks caused significant damage to infrastructure, including the main customs headquarters and buildings linked to military intelligence in Damascus’ Kafr Sousa district.
Israel’s military actions are motivated by concerns that chemical weapons and other prohibited munitions could fall into the hands of Islamist-led rebels, including Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who has opposed Israel for years. Israel has been closely monitoring the situation as the Assad regime’s collapse marks a significant shift in the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape.
The Israeli government views the collapse of the Syrian regime as a direct result of its actions against Hezbollah and Iran, two key supporters of Assad. Israel has also expressed concern over the potential fallout from extremist groups using seized weapons against Israeli targets.
