Israel conducted airstrikes on Syrian air defense systems and ammunition depots as part of its ongoing efforts to weaken the country’s military capabilities following the recent ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Israel targeted military installations in Tartous, Syria, including air defense units and missile depots, marking the most significant strikes in over a decade.
Reports suggest that the explosions in Tartous were so intense that some experts speculate it may have been a chemical weapons production facility.
The strategic targeting of Tartous, a key base for Syrian naval forces, was crucial as Israel had previously destroyed an entire fleet just days before.
In addition to Tartous, Israeli forces also bombed areas around Damascus, focusing on radar and air defense systems near Qasioun mountain with plans to continue targeting remaining installations in the coming days.
These overnight attacks are part of Israel’s broader campaign to degrade Syria’s air defenses and military capabilities since al-Assad’s downfall with approximately 600 strikes within eight days.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced intentions to increase settlers in the Golan Heights region illegally occupied since 1967 while Israeli troops have breached UN-patrolled buffer zones between Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights violating a longstanding armistice agreement.
Link from www.aljazeera.com