Israel intensifies airstrikes in Syria after fall of Assad, UN decries buffer zone violations

GOLAN HEIGHTS — Amid the political vacuum in Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the Israeli military significantly escalated its military operations, conducting airstrikes on various locations across the country. The air strikes targeted former regime military installations and weapons depots, with over 300 raids reported. The campaign, described as the largest operation in the history of the Israeli Air Force, has effectively dismantled Syria’s military infrastructure.

Among the areas targeted were the northeastern city of Zalin (Qamishli) was among the areas hit, with Israeli strikes targeting military bases and the Qamishli International Airport. The attacks resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to another from shrapnel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also confirmed in a press conference that he had instructed the military to seize control of the buffer zone along the Israeli-Syrian border and surrounding areas, including the strategic summit of Mount Hermon. Netanyahu also reiterated Israel’s claim to the Syrian Golan Heights, declaring it an integral part of the State of Israel.

The incursions have raised concerns within the international community. United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that Israeli forces advancing into the buffer zone in the Golan Heights constitute a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which established terms to prevent clashes between Israel and Syria.

Dujarric emphasized that the UN has informed Israeli officials about these violations, adding that Israeli forces remain deployed in three locations within the buffer zone, further complicating the already volatile situation in the region.