Above photo: Ali Haj Suleiman / Getty Images.
The Israeli army has systematically targeted all of Syria’s military capabilities.
From the moment Turkish-backed extremist groups took control of the country’s capital.
Israeli jets have launched well over 250 airstrikes across dozens of locations in the north, east, west, and south of Syria as of 10 December, targeting all of the country’s air defense systems, military bases, and overground military assets.
Heavy airstrikes have destroyed weapons and ammo depots, factories, research facilities, and all military airfields and naval bases since extremist armed groups entered the capital, Damascus, and seized power on Sunday morning.
BREAKING | Israel is heavily bombarding Syria, destroying all military assets belonging to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) across Homs, Hama, Damascus, and other areas. This includes weapons and ammo depots, air defense batteries, factories, warplane squadrons, air bases, and research… pic.twitter.com/XuP3s2ygs4
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) December 9, 2024
Israeli media described the blitzkrieg as the “most intense” bombing of Syria since the October 1973 War. Channel 12 reported that “the air force is operating on a very broad scale across Syria to destroy the remnants of the Syrian Army.”
“In more than 250 raids, the air force destroyed tanks, planes, helicopters, ships, air defense systems, missiles, military factories, and security facilities … If this operation succeeds, the new rebel regime will have to start from scratch, with simple weapons like M16s and Kalashnikovs, to build its military capabilities as a new state,” the Israeli broadcaster said in its report broadcast on Monday night.
🚨 A series of about a dozen IOF airstrikes bombed several parts of Latakia, Syria, including the Bayda Naval port moments ago, seemingly targeting warships there. New airstrikes are targeting Damascus now. pic.twitter.com/3u9HT6YbQN
— Dr. Zain Abbadi (@ZainAbbadi11) December 9, 2024
In one of Sunday’s airstrikes, Israeli warplanes reportedly bombed the security compound in the Kafr Sousa area of central Damascus, which housed intelligence and customs offices, resulting in massive fires.
The Immigration and Passports Center in Damascus is set on fire pic.twitter.com/pDNEmmvEoH
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) December 8, 2024
The unprecedented wave of airstrikes in Syria followed Israel’s unilateral “expansion” of the buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights, a move the UN said constituted a violation of a 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria.
“There should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation. And Israel and Syria must continue to uphold the terms of that 1974 agreement and preserve stability in the Golan,” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, told reporters on Monday.
South Syria |
Scenes obtained showing Israeli soldiers from the Negev’s brigade special operations unit invading the village of Quneitra in south Syria.
Unusually, non-armored vehicles are being used by the unit. pic.twitter.com/Ye511O9Wax
— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) December 9, 2024
Israeli forces occupied Syria’s Mount Hermon and several towns and villages on Sunday, soon after the fall of Damascus, advancing several kilometers into the country facing no opposition.
“This is a historic day for the Middle East. The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus, offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech broadcast from the occupied Golan Heights, in which he also took responsibility for Assad’s ouster.
Netanyahu claimed that the 1974 truce agreement had “collapsed” along with the Syrian government. “We gave the Israeli army the order to take over these positions to ensure that no hostile force embeds itself right next to the border of Israel. This is a temporary defensive position until a suitable arrangement is found,” the Israeli premier alleged.
The new leadership in Damascus, led by former ISIS and Al-Qaeda commander Abu Mohammed al-Julani, has largely kept quiet about the Israeli occupation of southern Syria and the relentless attacks across the country.