The Israeli Air Force has carried out more than 300 airstrikes in various parts of Syria since Sunday. Timo R. Stewart, senior researcher at the Foreign Policy Institute, explains what it’s all about.
Israel has intervened by force in the chaotic situation in Syria.
Its air force has carried out more than 300 airstrikes across Syria since Sunday.
At the same time, Israeli ground forces have advanced only 25 kilometers from the capital Damascus, Syrian sources say.
– They have now seen an opportunity to strike, says a senior researcher at the Foreign Policy Institute Timo R. Stewart.
In the past, the Syrian regime could have tried to repel the attacks or make counterattacks on the Israeli side. Now the new rulers have no way to respond.
– They have their hands full for at least the next few months with their own affairs, says Stewart.
Airstrikes destroy equipment
With its airstrikes, Israel aims to destroy as much of the heavy equipment of the Syrian army as possible, so that they do not end up in the hands of the new rulers, Stewart estimates.
The Islamists who overthrew the Syrian regime consider Israel to be their enemy by default.
The targets of Israeli attacks have reportedly been at least fighter planes, missiles and chemical weapons.
– They clearly know the target lists and are certainly going to cause a lot of damage to the Syrian armed forces, Stewart estimates.
Israel has also struck Syria before during the civil war. In the past, the targets were usually the weapons shipments of the extremist organization Hezbollah from Iran to Lebanon.
According to Stewart, it is difficult to say how long Israel will continue the attacks.
– It would be advantageous for Israel to carry out very short and sharp airstrikes now, he estimated.
Ground troops occupy the buffer zone
The Israeli ground forces, on the other hand, are trying to seize more land in front of the Golan Heights.
The purpose is to create a buffer zone that protects areas that Israel has already taken over, Stewart estimates. In addition, Israel can destroy military targets near the border.
Israel occupied the Golan Heights belonging to Syria already in 1967. It has annexed the area, but only the United States has recognized the territorial annexation.
There has been a demilitarized or unarmed zone between the Golan Heights and areas held by Syria. UN military observers monitor the zone, and Finland is also involved in the operation.
Israel has said it will take over this zone temporarily. According to Syrian sources, Israel has already penetrated beyond the borders of this zone.
Stewart does not believe that Israel would seek to occupy densely populated areas.
– It would bring completely different military challenges and no particular benefit can be seen from it, Stewart estimates.
Instead, Israel seems to be interested in Mount Hermon, located in the demilitarized zone, where it could set up a radar station.
According to Stewart, Israel may well seek to occupy such strategic areas even longer.
Sources: AFP, Reuters