The IDF conducted a wave of airstrikes in Syria overnight Monday into Tuesday, focusing on eliminating Assad regime military assets. Over the past few days, hundreds of targets have been hit, including fighter jets, arms depots, air defense systems, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, cruise missiles, long-range rockets, and coastal missile batteries.
Despite claims to the contrary, IDF ground forces have not approached within 12 miles of Damascus. Israeli officials maintain that operations are currently restricted to the buffer zone. While this is described as a temporary measure, its duration depends on the evolving situation.
Israeli intelligence remains focused on Iran, which has faced severe setbacks, losing key strategic allies like Hezbollah and, now, the Assad regime in Syria. Western powers are increasingly alarmed that Iran may accelerate efforts to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels. Nonetheless, experts highlight that weaponization – a process estimated to take 18 months – remains a separate challenge.
Russian news agency Sputnik, citing Syrian sources, reported Israeli airstrikes targeting the Shayrat military airport in Homs province, alongside attacks on military installations in the provinces of Raqqa and Hasakah.
Reports in Arab media suggest IDF forces have taken Hina village and advanced toward the outskirts of Khan al-Shaykh in southern Syria, capturing other locations in the region. Syrian outlets described further airstrikes on Qudsaya's outskirts near Damascus and the Qalamoun mountains along the Lebanese border. Additional hits were reported in Latakia and Homs.
Syria's representative to the UN urged the Security Council and Secretary-General to "halt Israeli exploitation of the nation's political transition." Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented 310 airstrikes within 24 hours, targeting former regime sites and vacated military positions.
Additionally, the Syrian Observatory noted that Turkish-backed factions had seized Manbij from Kurdish forces. The IDF reportedly remains stationed near the southern borders of Rif Dimashq province.
