Israeli jets and warships have been pounding Syria since al-Assad’s fall, striking 480 targets in the cities of Damascus, Homs, Tartous, Latakia and Palmyra in the past 48 hours.
The Israeli military estimates it destroyed up to 80 percent of Syria’s military capabilities in what it calls one of the largest offensive operations in its history.
Syria has not fired a shot at Israel since 1974.
![Syrian naval ships destroyed during an overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia on December 10, 2024 [Aaref Watad/AFP]
The Israeli military and a Syrian war monitor said the targets included:
Air defence systems, radars, missile launchers and firing positions
Fighter jets, military helicopters and hangars at multiple airbases
At least 15 naval vessels, including ships and missile boats
Weapons depots, production sites and a variety of missiles
Scientific research centres linked with Syria’s chemical weapons programme](https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/632/803/010/342/693/original/efeaec67e3afd441.webp)
Why is Israel attacking Syria?
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/11/israel-attack-syria-explainer
![Israeli military vehicles cross the fence to the buffer zone witrh Syria near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights on December 10, 2024 [Jalaa Marey/AFP]](https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/633/004/497/160/134/original/f267aa6975abc4ca.webp)
Israel is destroying strategic military infrastructure of Syria, including naval bases, military warehouses, ammunition depots, aircraft, and military airports.
By doing so, they are making sure that Syria’s new administration does not have the capability of even defending itself.
Israel is reducing Syria into Lebanon, into Gaza. That is a huge challenge to the new administration...
Resul Serdar Atas
![...which is trying to preserve the state apparatus and run state affairs, making sure that there is a smooth political transition.
An aerial photo shows Syrian naval ships destroyed during an overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia on December 10, 2024 [Aaref Watad/AFP]](https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/633/128/705/138/891/original/f1ac47f4be66a9fe.webp)