What's happened
Since March 2025, Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes on Syrian military sites, including in Palmyra, Homs, and Daraa, aiming to prevent weapons from reaching Syrian authorities and jihadist groups. The strikes follow the collapse of Assad's regime and increased regional tensions.
What's behind the headline?
The recent escalation of Israeli airstrikes in Syria reflects a strategic effort to neutralize military threats linked to the fall of Assad and the rise of Islamist factions. These strikes target military sites believed to house weapons and vehicles from Assad's regime, which Israel considers a threat to its security. The consistent targeting of Syrian military infrastructure indicates Israel's intent to prevent weapons proliferation and limit Iranian influence in the region. The Syrian government condemns these actions as violations of sovereignty, but Israel maintains its operations are defensive. The ongoing military activity underscores the fragile stability in Syria and the risk of wider regional conflict. The presence of Israeli forces in the buffer zone, despite international agreements, signals a long-term security posture aimed at deterring hostile forces and maintaining regional dominance.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports that Israel targeted strategic military capabilities at Palmyra and T-4 airbase, with extensive strikes aimed at preserving aerial superiority. It highlights Israel's concern over weapons falling into hostile hands post-Assad. The article notes Israel's ongoing strikes in Daraa and southern Syria, emphasizing the threat posed by remnants of Assad's regime and jihadist groups. The New Arab details multiple strikes on military sites near Homs and Daraa, with casualties reported and Syrian authorities condemning the attacks as aggression. Al Jazeera confirms Israeli strikes targeting military sites in southern Syria, including command centers and weapons depots, with the Israeli military asserting these are threats to Israel. The coverage from these sources collectively underscores Israel's persistent military campaign aimed at destabilizing Assad's remnants and preventing weapons proliferation, amidst regional tensions and ongoing conflict dynamics.
How we got here
Following the December 2024 collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Israel intensified its military operations in Syria to target weapons and military infrastructure. Israel aims to prevent these from falling into the hands of groups hostile to Israel, amid ongoing instability and sectarian violence in Syria. The presence of Israeli troops in a buffer zone in southern Syria, previously monitored by UN peacekeepers, has been described as a defensive measure, with Prime Minister Netanyahu stating troops will remain indefinitely.
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More on these topics
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Bashar Hafez al-Assad is a Syrian politician who has been the President of Syria since 17 July 2000. In addition, he is commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and Regional Secretary of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party's branch in Syria.
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Daraa is a city in southwestern Syria, located about 13 kilometres north of the border with Jordan. It is the capital of Daraa Governorate, historically part of the ancient Hauran region.
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The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has
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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Homs (Arabic: حِمْص, romanized: Ḥimṣ [ħɪmsˤ]; Levantine Arabic: حُمْص, romanized: Ḥomṣ [ħɔmsˤ]), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( EM-ə-sə; Ancient Greek: Ἔμεσα, romanized: Émesa), is a city in western Syria and the ca