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Israel carried out airstrikes on over 250 sites in Syria following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, in what has been described as one of the largest military operations in its history.
According to Israel’s Army Radio, the strikes targeted Syrian military infrastructure, including air bases, surface-to-air missile systems, weapons production facilities, and storage depots.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that for the first time in more than 50 years, Israel struck all Syrian air bases. Hundreds of warplanes and drones were reportedly deployed in the operation, hitting nearly 300 targets across the country.
The Israeli military said its intent was to prevent advanced weaponry from falling into the hands of Hezbollah and other groups, utilizing the power vacuum left by the regime’s collapse.
Among the targeted sites were a chemical weapons facility in Damascus and air defense systems in Latakia.
Israeli forces entered the buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights under orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Netanyahu stated from the Golan Heights that Israel's presence there is "essential for its security" and reiterated his claim that the territory would remain an integral part of Israel.
The strikes drew condemnation from regional actors, with accusations of exploiting Syria's instability for territorial gains.
Hezbollah issued a statement calling the attacks a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty. The international community has largely criticized Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights, which has been under Israeli control since 1967.
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