In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes on Tuesday targeting the Syrian government forces and positions held by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. These strikes represent a rare direct assault on the new Syrian government, which emerged following the ousting of the long-standing dictator Bashar al-Assad in December and is now composed primarily of former Islamist rebels.
The airstrikes came after days of intense sectarian strife in the southern Sweida region, where violent conflicts erupted between Bedouin groups and militias representing the Druse minority. The new Syrian leadership deployed government forces to quell the unrest in Sweida, a significant area for the Druse community, resulting in further bloodshed as those forces became embroiled in the conflict.
Israel, which has established close ties with its own Druse minority, voiced its commitment to protecting Druse individuals on the Syrian side of the border. Furthermore, preliminary diplomatic exchanges have been initiated between Israel and the new Syrian administration, aided by U.S. mediation efforts aimed at reducing escalating tensions.
The airstrikes also extended into Lebanon, where Israeli forces targeted the Bekaa Valley region, a known stronghold for Hezbollah supporters. According to Lebanese officials, these incursions appear to be part of Israel's broader strategy to exert pressure on Hezbollah to relinquish its arms, aligning with trends seen in post-war Lebanon following the cease-fire agreement in November that ended significant conflict.
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed that the latest military actions served as a strong warning to both Hezbollah and the Lebanese state, emphasizing Israel's readiness to respond vigorously to any efforts by the group to regain its military stature.
As tensions continue to simmer in the region, with humanitarian implications worsening amid the ongoing violence, the international community watches closely for any developments that may influence the precarious balance of power in Syria and Lebanon.
