Israel's Airstrikes Escalate Tensions with Syria's New Leadership

As Israel ramps up its military actions against Syria following the civil war, the new Syrian leadership insists on defending its sovereignty while seeking to avoid conflict.

Israel has intensified airstrikes along Syria’s coastline and conducted ground operations in the southern region, citing security necessities amidst rising tensions with the recently established Syrian government. The assaults are reportedly aimed at preventing the Assad regime from supplying arms to groups viewed as potential threats to Israel.

On Monday evening, Israeli forces targeted a weapons storage facility in Qardaha, a city notably associated with former President Bashar al-Assad. This location lies in proximity to a significant Russian airbase near Latakia. While the Syrian state news agency SANA reported no immediate casualties, the raids signify a continuation of Israel's strategy to curb military resources from reaching unfriendly factions.

In addition to the airstrikes, Israel carried out ground operations in two towns in southern Syria, conducting searches of military installations and destroying warehouses before retreating, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Tel Aviv's actions closely follow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent call for the "complete demilitarization" of southern Syria in response to the regime's changes following a rebel takeover in December. Since then, Israel has executed hundreds of airstrikes within Syrian territory, asserting that these operations are essential for national safety.

Israel also maintains forces in a United Nations-monitored demilitarized zone along the Syrian border and has intermittently invaded southern territories, where locals express concern about the potential for a prolonged military presence.

Syria's new government has condemned these actions as infringements upon its sovereignty, with various parties, including the United Nations, calling for the respect of Syria's territorial integrity. Following clashes near Damascus, Netanyahu declared a military directive to protect the Druse minority amid fears regarding the new governance, a stance that has been opposed by local Druse leaders and the Syrian government.

Amid this standoff, Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Shara has stated that the country is not pursuing conflict with Israel, despite holding a national dialogue conference aimed at fostering an inclusive government. The concluding statements from this conference refuted Israel's insistence that Syrian armed forces should not be permitted in southern regions of the country.

The exact trajectory of relations between Israel and Syria remains uncertain, raising questions about potential shifts in the geopolitical landscape of the region under the new Syrian administration.