Israel's Attack on Chemical Weapons and Long-Range Missile Depots of the Syrian Army

Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's Foreign Minister, stated on Monday that his country has attacked sites in Syria where chemical weapons and long-range missiles belonging to the Syrian army are located, in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of 'hostile actors' and 'extremists.' He added that this action is solely for the security of Israel and its citizens. Concurrently, Israel Katz, Israel's Defense Minister, has ordered the army to destroy any remaining strategic weapons of the Syrian army. He has authorized the army to counter any potential reconstruction of smuggling routes for weapons from Iran to Syria intended for Hezbollah, particularly attacking border points and crossings between Syria and Lebanon if such movements are observed. The Israeli government has welcomed the collapse of Assad's regime, a key ally of Iran and Hezbollah, but is concerned about the situation in Syria and the future of the country. Reports indicate that Israeli fighter jets have conducted around 100 airstrikes against military targets of the Syrian army in the past 24 hours. The aim of these bombings, which utilized bunker buster bombs, was to destroy heavy weapons and prevent them from falling into the hands of militants. Israel also has particular concerns regarding the remaining chemical weapons in Syria and it is expected that airstrikes will continue in the coming days. Israeli army radio reported on Monday, December 19, that ground forces of the country have taken control of additional points around the 'border buffer zone' between Syria and Israel from Sunday night until Monday morning. This action occurred following the collapse of Bashar Assad's regime and the abandonment of positions by Syrian army forces. Israel has also seized the Syrian part of Mount Hermon, which is higher than the Israeli part. Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the 1974 border agreement has been nullified due to the withdrawal of Syrian forces, and some Israeli politicians have stated that these areas will remain under Israeli control until the situation stabilizes. The Israeli Prime Minister visited the border with Syria hours after the collapse of Bashar Assad's regime and stated that he has ordered the army to establish a presence in the buffer zone located in Syrian territory and in some other areas around this buffer zone. Netanyahu stated on Sunday, December 18, that the 1974 agreement between Israel and Syria is facing collapse as Syrian army soldiers had abandoned their positions, adding that we will not allow any hostile forces to establish themselves at our borders. He called this day a historic day for the Middle East and stated that Bashar Assad's regime was a central piece in the axis of evil of Iran, and 'now, this regime has collapsed as a direct result of the blows we have dealt to Iran and Hezbollah, the two main supporters of Assad's regime.' The Israeli Prime Minister further stated that Israel's strikes have triggered a chain reaction in the Middle East from all those who want to free themselves from the burden of this oppressive and autocratic regime. Netanyahu mentioned that the new situation 'creates new and very important opportunities for the State of Israel, but at the same time, it is not without risks.' Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz also announced the deployment of Israeli military forces to the buffer zone. In a televised speech, he stated that this decision was made to ensure the security of Israeli communities in the Golan Heights. He, too, likened the fall of Bashar Assad's regime to a severe blow to the 'axis of evil of the Iranian regime, whose declared goal is the destruction of the State of Israel.' Katz once again compared the Iranian regime to an octopus whose arms will be cut off one by one. In recent months, Israel has killed commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran as well as senior leaders of the extremist groups Hamas and Hezbollah, both supported by Tehran. Israel rarely comments on individual attacks in Syria but has repeatedly stated that it will not allow Iran to expand its presence in the country. Following the fall of Bashar Assad's regime on Sunday, the Israeli army announced that it had attacked military targets belonging to the Syrian army before Syrian weapons could fall into the hands of rebel forces opposing Assad. Israeli media report that a chemical weapons factory near Damascus airport was targeted by Israeli fighter jets, but the army did not specify the nature of the location that was targeted in its statement. This is the first attack among thousands of Israeli attacks on Syria in over two decades, but it is the first attack following the confirmation of the collapse of Bashar Assad's regime. Non-governmental Syrian media reported explosions at the Mezzeh military airport near Damascus on that day. The Israeli army announced on Sunday that it would not intervene in internal Syrian events and would only respond to incidents that pose a threat to Israel's security interests and its people. The Prime Minister and the Israeli army warned Bashar Assad just before the start of armed rebel attacks on the city of Aleppo, which initiated the chain collapse of other cities, that if he helps to rearm Hezbollah in Lebanon, he himself will 'pay a direct price' for 'playing with fire.' Syria is a multi-ethnic country with various religions, home to significant minorities of Christians, Alawites, Kurds, and Druze, as well as Arab minorities with substantial populations in Israel, Lebanon, and other countries.