Damascus, Syria –  Syrian military airbase on the outskirts of Damascus on Monday, revealing the devastation caused by Israeli airstrikes. Israel has stated its intent to destroy weapons and military hardware accumulated by the Assad regime over decades, to prevent these resources from falling into the hands of extremists.

Since Bashar al-Assad fled Syria for Russia earlier this month—forced out by a surprise rebel offensive after years of civil war—Israeli airstrikes have relentlessly targeted Syria’s military infrastructure. Assad’s departure marked the end of a decade-long conflict, which, until recently, seemed to have reached a deadlock.

Massive Strikes on Syrian Military Sites

The damage inflicted on Assad’s forces has been immense. One overnight strike in the coastal city of Tartus, home to Russia’s naval base, was so powerful it registered on the Richter scale as the equivalent of a magnitude-3 earthquake. The Russian military quickly evacuated most of its ships from Tartus after Assad’s fall, and while Russia’s Ministry of Defense is still negotiating its next steps, its forces are in flux.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military reports that it has dealt significant blows to Assad’s military arsenal. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Israeli fighter jets have destroyed “over 90% of Syria’s strategic surface-to-air missiles.” These strikes have targeted a wide range of military assets, including fighter jets, helicopters, Scud missiles, UAVs, cruise missiles, precision-guided missiles, radars, and rockets.

Rebels Take Control as Israel Launches Ground Incursion

The rapid takeover of Syria by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group, now the country’s de-facto rulers, has led to further Israeli incursions. IDF forces have moved past the Golan Heights into a previously demilitarized buffer zone in Syria. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa criticized Israel’s military actions but emphasized his group’s focus on rebuilding the state rather than engaging in conflict with Israel. HTS, once affiliated with al-Qaeda, has distanced itself from extremism, claiming its intention to form a secular administration.

The damage to Syria’s military infrastructure has exposed deep-rooted issues of corruption and neglect. Years of mismanagement and ongoing conflict have left much of Assad’s military hardware outdated and poorly maintained. As Assad’s forces surrendered or abandoned their posts, the Syrian military’s disarray became evident.

Assad Speaks Out from Exile

In his first public statement since fleeing Syria, Assad claimed he never planned to resign and only left for Russia due to the escalating threat from rebels. He described taking refuge in the Russian-run Hmeimim airbase as the rebels closed in on Damascus. After a drone attack on the base on December 8, Assad said evacuation orders were given. He expressed sorrow over Syria’s fall into the hands of “terrorism,” but insisted he had no choice but to flee.

The statement was initially posted on the Syrian Presidency’s official Telegram channel but was quickly deleted, only to reappear on the Telegram and Facebook pages shortly after.

Focus on Assad’s Weapons Stockpiles

As the international community grapples with how to deal with HTS, both Israel and the United States remain focused on preventing Syria’s stockpiled weapons from being exploited by extremist groups. Israel’s military campaign has been one of the most aggressive airstrikes Syria has seen in years, continuing just days after Assad’s sudden departure.

Syria’s Devastated Military

Whoever ultimately gains control of Syria will inherit a fractured military infrastructure. With Assad’s forces in disarray and most of the country’s weapons in ruins, it’s clear that Israel’s strikes were aimed at weakening Syria’s defense capabilities for years to come. According to the IDF, these efforts represent a significant achievement in the region’s ongoing power dynamics.

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Israel has confirmed its involvement in recent attacks on Syria’s naval fleet, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Videos verified by the BBC show explosions at Syria’s Latakia port, with extensive damage to ships and parts of the port.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), more than 310 strikes have been documented by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Sunday. The attacks reportedly include hundreds of airstrikes across Syria, targeting cities such as Aleppo, Damascus, and Hama.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that the IDF’s goal is to “destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel.” Katz also described the operation against Syria’s naval fleet as a “great success.”

IDF Operations Beyond the Buffer Zone

The IDF has confirmed that its troops are operating inside Syrian territory, going beyond the demilitarized buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. These operations aim to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of extremists as Syria transitions to a post-Assad era.

The SOHR reported that the attacks targeted various military facilities, including weapon warehouses, ammunition depots, airports, naval bases, and research centers. Many of these facilities were not just damaged but destroyed.

Rami Abdul Rahman, SOHR’s founder, described the strikes as having crippled “all the capabilities of the Syrian army,” further stating that “Syrian lands are being violated.”

Tensions Over the Golan Heights and Buffer Zone

The IDF’s entry into the buffer zone, an area established in 1974 as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria, has drawn criticism. Turkish officials condemned Israel’s actions as an “occupying mentality” during a sensitive period for Syria. The area is meant to separate Israeli and Syrian forces, and Israel’s unilateral annexation of the Golan Heights in 1981 has not been internationally recognized, though the U.S. did so in 2019.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel’s presence in the buffer zone is a “temporary defensive position,” emphasizing Israel’s right to defend its borders and citizens. Netanyahu also expressed hope for peaceful relations with the “new forces” emerging in Syria, but reaffirmed that Israel would take whatever steps necessary to protect its security.

Israel’s Concerns Over Chemical Weapons and Extremists

Israel’s primary concern, as articulated by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, is preventing “strategic weapons systems,” such as chemical weapons and long-range missiles, from falling into extremist hands. This includes potential stockpiles of chemical weapons believed to have been kept by the Assad regime.

In response to these concerns, the UN’s chemical weapons watchdog urged Syrian authorities to ensure the safety of any suspected chemical weapon stockpiles.

The Fall of Assad’s Regime

The Israeli airstrikes come after the Syrian opposition, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), successfully captured Damascus and toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Assad’s family had held power in Syria since 1971. HTS fighters entered the capital early on Sunday, declaring Syria “free” on state television.

This turn of events has added further uncertainty to the region, with Israel’s actions signaling ongoing tension and instability as the Syrian civil war enters a new phase.

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