.jpg "Netanyahu Seeks Relations with Post-Assad Syria but Vows Strong Retaliation Against Threats")
Netanyahu Seeks Relations with Post-Assad Syria but Vows Strong Retaliation Against Threats
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a dual approach to Syria on Tuesday, underlining a desire to establish "relations" with the post-Assad regime while issuing a stark warning against potential threats to Israeli security.
In a televised address, Netanyahu had said, "We want relations with the new regime in Syria. But if this regime allows Iran to return to establishing itself in Syria or facilitates the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah, we will respond strongly and exact a heavy price."
With the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, rebel forces have taken over Damascus, and the new government in Syria has left a vacuum. Netanyahu indicated that Israel's stance would depend upon the new government's actions, adding, "What happened to the previous regime will also happen to this regime" if it poses a threat.
Massive Strikes on Syrian Targets
Hours before Netanyahu's speech, Israel carried out heavy bombing of Syrian military facilities. The IDF said it targeted a broad array of assets, from ports and airfields to arms depots, across Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra. Among the strikes were ballistic missiles, UAVs, and fighter jets.
The IDF reported that "more than 350 aerial strikes" had been conducted by manned aircraft and fighter jets. Among the targets were anti-aircraft batteries and naval installations. As many as 15 Syrian naval vessels were hit at Al-Bayda and Latakia ports.
Netanyahu drew a parallel between the strikes and Britain's WWII attack against the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Nazi army.
International Reactions
The United Nations condemned the strikes and criticized Israel's military presence beyond the Golan Heights into a demilitarized buffer zone. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen called the developments "troubling," urging restraint to prevent further escalation in the region.
"This is extremely important," Pedersen said. "We need to see a stop to the Israeli attacks and ensure that conflicts involving various armed groups in northeast Syria do not escalate further."
Controversy Over Golan Heights
The strikes reignited international scrutiny over Israel's presence in the Golan Heights, a region seized in 1967. While the U.S. recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the area, most of the international community views it as Syrian territory.
Netanyahu hailed the fall of Assad as a historic moment, heaping credit on the role of Israeli efforts against the Iranian surrogate, Hezbollah. However, he was quick to state that Israel would not tolerate renewed Iranian influence or transfers of weapons via Syria.
Looking Ahead
With the future leadership of Syria yet hanging in the balance, Netanyahu's comments underscore Israel's priorities in the region. The balancing act of establishing diplomatic ties while readying to act against security threats underlines the post-Assad geopolitical landscape.