Israel Conducts Airstrikes Across Syria, Claims Responsibility For Attacks On Syrian Naval Fleet, Warns Iran To Steer Clear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a barrage of airstrikes across Syria on Tuesday, Israel has confirmed responsibilities for attacks on the Syrian naval fleet.

In a reaction, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) was aiming to “destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel”.

BBC reports that Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also threatened to respond forcefully if Iran aims to “re-establish itself in Syria.”

“If we can establish neighbourly relations and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in Syria, that’s our desire. But if we do not, we will do whatever it takes to defend the State of Israel and the border of Israel,” he said on Monday.

“Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s entry into the buffer zone, accusing it of an “occupying mentality” during a “sensitive period, when the possibility of achieving the peace and stability the Syrian people have desired for many years has emerged”.

This buffer zone at the Centre of controversy, is also known as the Area of Separation.

It was set up as part of Israel’s ceasefire agreement with Syria in 1974 to keep Israeli and Syrian forces separated, following Israel’s earlier occupation of the Golan Heights.

According to the  BBC, there have been verified videos showing blasts at the port of Latakia in Syria, with footage appearing to show extensive damage to ships and parts of the port.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says it has documented more than 310 strikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since the fall of the Assad regime on Sunday.

Israeli warplanes have also reportedly carried out hundreds of airstrikes across Syria, including on the capital, Damascus.

According to the  Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz the IDF was aiming to “destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel”.

He added that the operation to destroy the Syrian fleet had been a “great success”.

In a video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Syrian rebel group that ousted President Bashar al-Assad, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), that Israel would “respond forcefully” if they allow Iran to “re-establish itself in Syria”.

Meanwhile, the IDF confirmed it has troops operating in Syrian territory beyond the demilitarized buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

It added that its strikes were to prevent weapons falling “into the hands of extremists” as Syria transitions to a post-Assad era.

The Israeli attack targeted military facilities of the Syrian Army, including weapon warehouses, ammunition depots, airports, naval bases and research centres.

There has been instability in Syria since the Assad regime was overthrown by rebels.