Israel has destroyed the most important military facilities in Syria with airstrikes. What is Netanyahu's goal?
The Israeli military took advantage of the uncertain situation in Syria and attacked the military infrastructure of the neighboring country. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, since the fall of Assad, Israel has carried out about 250 airstrikes against Syria. In doing so, "the most important military facilities in Syria" were destroyed, including research centers, weapons camps, warships, airports and aircraft.
Syrian air defenses in Damascus, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Daraa were also disabled in the attacks, it was also reported. In front of the DPA agency, the head of the Observatory, Rami Abdel-Rahman, defined Israel's strikes as "the heaviest in the history of Syria".
What is the purpose of the attacks
This is in no way an intervention in the internal affairs of Syria, there is no interest in such a thing - said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, quoted by ARD. It was about the protection of Israeli citizens. "That is why we attack strategic weapons systems such as remaining chemical weapons or long-range missiles - so that they do not fall into the hands of extremists."
Israel is in the process of "changing the face of the Middle East," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Assad's Syria was "the most important link in the Iranian axis of evil". Now Israel wants "another Syria" that benefits both Israel and the people of Syria. Netanyahu also pointed out: "The State of Israel is asserting itself as a power center in the region, which it has not been for decades.
Israeli units did not reach 25 km from Damascus
Meanwhile, the Israeli military created a buffer zone on the occupied Golan Heights and elsewhere - as a temporary measure, writes ARD. And after Syrian sources announced that Israeli units had advanced far beyond the buffer zones on the territory of Syria and reached 25 km southwest of Damascus, an Israeli military spokesman denied these reports. "It is not true that the units have left the buffer zone," said the spokesman, quoted by ARD.
Arab countries criticized Israel
Arab observers, however, suspect that Israel is pursuing much more distant goals than preventing the danger emanating from Islamists. "Israel wants to remain the biggest power in the region, act as it likes and control the geography," says former Syrian army general Ahmed El Hammadi, ARD informs.
The general adds: "Israel is taking advantage of the fact that the power in Syria is changing, the army is completely broken and chaos reigns - that is why its positions and infrastructure are being bombed.
Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemned the Israeli attacks on Syria as a violation of international law. Their position is that Israel is undermining the chances of Syria regaining more security after the fall of Assad.