The Israeli military reported conducting an airstrike on Saturday, focusing on a weapons depot utilized by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Syria. The operation involved Israeli fighter jets executing a targeted strike on what has been described as a facility for storing arms belonging to Hamas, specifically in the vicinity of Deir Ali.
In its official statement, the Israeli military emphasized its commitment to dismantling Hamas’ capabilities across various fronts, affirming that it would not tolerate any efforts by terrorist organizations to establish a stronger foothold or enhance their military capacity. This airstrike is indicative of Israel’s broader strategy in the region, which has included hundreds of aerial assaults in Syria since the civil war’s onset in 2011, primarily targeting Iranian-aligned entities.
Israel’s military activities intensified following the dramatic rebel advances that led to the ousting of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2011. The Israeli government cited national security concerns as a key motivation for these operations, aiming to obstruct Syrian military assets from falling into the hands of hostile forces.
Further complicating the regional dynamics, Israeli troops have recently advanced into the UN-monitored buffer zone that separates Israeli and Syrian forces in the strategically significant Golan Heights. This area remains a focal point for tensions between the two nations.
Under Assad’s governance, Syria became an integral member of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” a coalition intended to counter Israel’s influence, comprising groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas. Notably, in October 2022, Hamas re-established its relationship with the Syrian government after a prolonged period of estrangement that began in 2012. The Palestinian group had previously distanced itself from the Assad regime due to its violent crackdown on protests that erupted in March 2011, marking the beginning of Syria’s civil unrest. This renewed alliance underscores the complex and shifting allegiances within the region, particularly concerning shared opposition to Israel.
