Israel Responds with Force Following Assad Regime Collapse

Israel has launched a large-scale military operation in Syria following the sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, marking the first time in half a century that Israeli ground forces have moved into and beyond the demilitarized buffer zone separating the two nations. The Israeli military announced that it had carried out around 480 airstrikes across Syria over the past two days, targeting strategic weapon stockpiles and other military assets.

Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that the Israeli navy had also destroyed Syria’s naval fleet during overnight operations, calling the offensive “a great success.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Assad’s downfall as “a new and dramatic chapter,” attributing it to Israel’s relentless strikes on its adversaries. “The collapse of the Syrian regime is a direct result of the severe blows with which we have struck Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran,” Netanyahu said on Monday. “The axis has not yet disappeared, but as I promised – we are changing the face of the Middle East.”

For Israel, the collapse of Assad’s government brings mixed feelings. While his removal is seen as a blow to Iran and Hezbollah, who used Syria as a logistical hub, there are concerns about the potential rise of radical Islamist factions in the power vacuum left behind. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar explained that Israel’s airstrikes on Syrian military installations were intended to prevent chemical weapons and long-range missiles from falling into extremist hands. “It is important right now to take all necessary steps in the context of the security of Israel,” Sa’ar stated.

The conflict has brought unprecedented violence to Syria’s capital, Damascus. Explosions rocked the city throughout Tuesday, with activist group Voice of the Capital describing the Israeli bombing as “the most violent in Damascus in 15 years.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that of the 480 strikes, approximately 350 were carried out by manned aircraft targeting airfields, anti-aircraft systems, drones, tanks, and weapons facilities in key cities including Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra. The remaining strikes supported ground troops targeting weapons depots and military structures.

The IDF also confirmed naval operations, which destroyed 15 Syrian vessels docked at two naval facilities. Photographs from Latakia showed extensive destruction of Syrian naval vessels, while images from the Mezzeh Air Base near Damascus depicted demolished military helicopters.

Arab states have criticized Israel’s actions, accusing it of exploiting Syria’s instability. The Arab League condemned Israel for “taking advantage of the developments in the internal situation in Syria,” while Egypt claimed that the operations amounted to “an exploitation of the state of fluidity and vacuum… to occupy more Syrian territories.”

Israel has denied allegations of an aggressive land grab but acknowledged operating beyond the buffer zone. Military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani refuted claims that Israeli forces were advancing toward Damascus, insisting they were focused on creating a “security zone free of heavy strategic weapons and terrorist infrastructures” in southern Syria. This zone extends beyond the demilitarized area, which was established after the 1974 ceasefire that followed Israel’s capture of the Golan Heights in the 1967 war. Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, though it remains internationally recognized as occupied Syrian territory.

Activist reports suggest Israeli troops have advanced as far as Beqaasem, a village located 25 kilometers from Damascus and beyond the buffer zone. Mount Hermon, a strategic high point near the Syrian-Lebanese border and the Golan Heights, has also been seized by Israeli forces. While CNN could not independently verify these claims, the reported movements signify a significant expansion of Israel’s ground operations.

Netanyahu had ordered the military to occupy the buffer zone on Sunday, citing security concerns. Israeli officials have not disclosed how far troops might advance or how long they will remain in Syrian territory. Danny Dannon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, described the deployment as “limited and temporary measures to counter any further threat to its citizens” in a letter to the UN Security Council.

As the situation evolves, Israel faces both domestic and international scrutiny. Its military actions in Syria are seen by some as a strategic necessity but by others as opportunistic exploitation of the chaos in its northern neighbor.