Israel said it destroyed most of Syria’s major military assets after fall of Assad regime

Israel claimed this week that it has crippled any strategic military capabilities Syria might have possessed in a wave of military attacks that commenced shortly after the swift collapse of President Bashar Asaad’s regime in Damascus.

Late Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that he ordered the Israel Defense Forces to launch “Operation Bashan Arrow” to prevent Syrian military stockpiles from falling into the hands of terrorist groups.

“We have no interest in interfering in Syria’s internal affairs. However, we do intend to do what is necessary for our security,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement posted on social media. “I approved the Air Force bombing of strategic military capabilities left by the Syrian military.”

Israeli warships this week launched missiles at two naval ports where at least 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. The strike also destroyed dozens of sea-to-sea missiles that posed threats to military and civilian vessels operating in the area, IDF officials said on their Telegram social media account.

“Manned aircraft flew hundreds of hours over Syrian airspace, conducting over 350 aerial strikes together with fighter jets,” IDF officials said. “A wide range of targets were struck, including anti-aircraft batteries, Syrian Air Force airfields, and dozens of weapons production sites.”

The rolling waves of IDF strikes also destroyed several Syrian military assets, including Scud and cruise missiles, jet fighters, attack helicopters, tanks and radar facilities, officials said.

IDF ground troops also advanced into fighting positions along the Golan Heights which had been under Syrian control until they were abandoned once Mr. Assad fled the country for safe haven in Russia.

The fall of his decades-long rule in Syria was the culmination of a lightning-fast offensive by a loose collection of opposition forces, including those that have been designated as terrorist groups by the U.S. and other countries.

Mr. Netanyahu said Israel wants a working relationship with whatever group assumes control in Damascus.

“But, if this regime allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons — or weapons of any kind — to Hezbollah, or attacks us, we will respond forcefully,” he said. “And we will exact a heavy price.”