Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his desire to establish relations with the new regime in Syria following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. However, he issued a stern warning that Israel would not hesitate to take action if Syria posed a threat.
Netanyahu stated in a live address that Israel seeks relations with the new Syrian regime but would respond strongly if Iran was allowed to establish itself in Syria, weapons were transferred to Hezbollah, or if any attacks were directed towards Israel.
Israel recently conducted massive strikes against Syrian military targets, including naval sites and weapons depots. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the airstrikes, which targeted locations in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyr.
The IDF reported conducting over 350 aerial strikes with manned aircraft, hitting a wide range of targets such as anti-aircraft batteries, airfields, and weapons depots housing advanced weaponry.
It remains uncertain who will assume leadership in Syria now that rebel forces control Damascus. The United Nations condemned Israel's military actions beyond the Golan Heights and into a demilitarized buffer zone, urging a halt to the attacks.
U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen emphasized the need to stop Israeli movements into Syrian territory and prevent conflicts between armed groups. The U.N. expressed concern over the escalation of tensions and called for a resolution to the situation.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel's stance of not interfering in Syria's internal affairs but emphasized the country's commitment to safeguarding its security interests.
