Israeli Security Cabinet Orders Military Action Against Iranian Presence in Syria

On Tuesday, October 3, the Israeli government ordered its military to take action against Iran's military presence in Syria. Concurrently, the Israeli Prime Minister stated that his country is "committed to continuing the fight against the stabilization of Iran's military presence in Syria and will pursue coordination with Russia following the downing of the Russian military aircraft (in Syria)." According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, the Israeli security-political cabinet, which includes the Prime Minister and ministers of sensitive posts, authorized the military to continue necessary military actions against Iran in Syria while maintaining coordination with Russia during a special meeting on Tuesday. In its concluding statement, the Israeli cabinet expressed "sympathy" to Russia for the loss of its military aircraft in Syria but emphasized that ensuring security is Israel's top priority. Meanwhile, according to Agence France-Presse, Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that Israel has had "great successes in preventing the military stabilization of Iran in Syria and the transfer of deadly weapons from Iran to Hezbollah over the past three years... and we did this with full coordination with Russia." He made these remarks before leaving Israel to attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, just hours after the special meeting of his country's security-political cabinet. Netanyahu added, "After the tragic incident of the Russian plane, I spoke twice with Vladimir Putin and expressed my and the government's sorrow over the downing of their plane and the death of their military crew." The Israeli Prime Minister called on the Russian President in a phone call on Monday evening to refrain from equipping Syria with S-300 defense systems, adding that even if these systems are delivered, Israeli operations against the "military stabilization of Iran in Syria" will continue. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Monday that the S-300 systems would be delivered to Syria "in the next two weeks." According to two senior Russian officials, Moscow is strengthening Bashar al-Assad's army to defend Russian troops stationed in Syria. Russia announced its decision to equip Syria with S-300 systems a week after the downing of the Il-20 military aircraft and the killing of its 15 crew members in Syria; five years ago, Russia refrained from providing these systems to Syria at Israel's request, but the Russian Defense Minister stated, "The conditions have changed." On Sunday, Russia announced the results of its investigation into the downing of the Il-20, blaming Israel as "fully responsible"; the investigation claims that one of four Israeli fighter jets flying during a bombing of targets in Syria on September 17 flew behind the Il-20, causing a Syrian defense rocket to mistakenly hit the Russian aircraft. The Israeli army categorically rejected the findings of this investigation. Simultaneously, John Bolton, the U.S. National Security Advisor, called on Russia in a press conference in New York to reconsider its decision to equip Syria with S-300 systems, stating that this action would escalate tensions in the region. Over the past year and a half, Israel has attacked Syria more than 200 times to impose its defined "red lines" on security and military matters and to secure its interests. Iran, which has long emphasized that its military presence in Syria is "advisory" and based on agreements between Tehran and Damascus, has not yet reacted to the Israeli cabinet's new order to its military regarding further attacks on "Iranian targets in Syria." According to Itar-Tass, an Israeli official confirmed the execution of 200 military attacks on targets in Syrian territory. An Israeli minister stated that the red lines against Iran's presence also include Iraq. Shamkhani stated that equal retaliation would be given to any hostile action. Netanyahu stated that Syria is responsible for the downing of the Russian plane and that they will counter Iran's actions. Tehran called on the United Nations to condemn Israel's threats against Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu described Hassan Nasrallah's statements as "brazen." Moscow stated that Israel is responsible for the downing of the Russian military aircraft in Syria. Bolton stated that U.S. forces would not withdraw until the Iranians leave Syrian soil. The situation remains tense as the dynamics of proxy wars shift, with implications for both regional stability and Iranian domestic issues.