Israel Acknowledges Strikes Against Syrian Naval Fleet

Israel has verified its execution of assaults on Syria’s naval fleet, stating these actions were part of its strategy to dismantle military resources within the nation following the collapse of the Assad government. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared in a statement that its naval vessels targeted the ports of Al-Bayda and Latakia on Monday evening, where 15 ships were anchored. The BBC has authenticated video recordings depicting explosions at the Latakia port, with the visuals seemingly indicating significant destruction to ships and sections of the port area. The IDF additionally reported that its military aircraft had executed over 350 aerial assaults on various targets throughout Syria, concurrently deploying ground troops into the demilitarised zone separating Syria and the occupied Golan Heights. Previously, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), based in the UK, stated it had recorded over 310 IDF strikes since the Syrian administration was toppled by insurgent forces on Sunday. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz declared in a statement that the IDF’s objective was to “destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel”. He further noted that the mission to eliminate the Syrian fleet had achieved a “great success”. The IDF indicated that a broad array of targets had been hit – encompassing airfields, military vehicles, anti-aircraft weaponry, and arms manufacturing facilities – in Syria’s capital, Damascus, alongside Homs, Tartus, and Palmyra. Furthermore, it targeted weapon storage facilities, ammunition caches, and “dozens” of sea-to-sea missiles. It specified that these actions were undertaken to prevent them “from falling into the hands of extremists”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed in a video message to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian rebel faction that removed President Bashar al-Assad, that Israel would “respond forcefully” should they permit Iran to “re-establish itself in Syria”. He had previously articulated a wish for amicable relations with the nascent Syrian government, characterizing its interventions as defensive. Rami Abdul Rahman, who founded the SOHR, characterized the effect of the strikes as obliterating “all the capabilities of the Syrian army” and asserted that “Syrian lands are being violated”. Concurrently, the IDF also verified the presence of its forces operating within Syrian territory extending past the buffer zone adjacent to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The IDF conceded that its personnel had entered Syrian territory but informed the BBC that claims of tanks advancing towards Damascus were “false”. It stated that certain troops had been positioned within the Area of Separation, which borders the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, “and then a few additional points”. IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani explained to the BBC, “When we say a few additional points, we’re talking the area of the Area of Separation, or the area of the buffer zone in vicinity.” BBC Verify has pinpointed the geographical location of an image showing an IDF soldier situated slightly more than half a kilometre past the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights, within Syria on a hillside close to the village of Kwdana. On Monday, the Israeli military published photographs of its soldiers who had moved from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights into Syria’s demilitarised buffer zone, where UN peacekeepers are stationed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that the IDF’s occupation of Syrian positions in the buffer zone constituted a “temporary defensive position until a suitable arrangement is found”. He stated on Monday, “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.” Turkey’s foreign ministry denounced Israel’s entry into the buffer zone, alleging 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, also referred to as the Area of Separation, was established as part of Israel’s 1974 ceasefire accord with Syria to maintain a separation between Israeli and Syrian forces, subsequent to Israel’s prior occupation of the Golan Heights. Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan in 1981. This action lacked international recognition, though the US unilaterally acknowledged it in 2019. When questioned about the IDF strikes on Monday night, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar affirmed that Israel’s sole concern was the defense of its citizens. He explained, “That’s why we attack strategic weapons systems like, for example, remaining chemical weapons or long-range missiles and rockets in order that they will not fall into the hands of extremists.” On Monday, the UN’s chemical weapons oversight body issued a warning to Syrian authorities, urging them to guarantee the safety of suspected chemical weapon stockpiles. The precise location or quantity of Syria’s chemical weapons remains unknown, but it is widely believed that former President Assad maintained such stockpiles. Israel’s assaults occurred subsequent to Syrian rebel combatants seizing the capital, Damascus, with Assad reportedly fleeing the nation for Russia. He, along with his father before him, had governed the country since 1971. Troops spearheaded by the Islamist opposition organization HTS entered Damascus during the early hours of Sunday, subsequently appearing on state television to proclaim Syria as “free”. Additional reporting by Ian Casey Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.