Israel claims it struck chemical weapons sites in Syria
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has launched airstrikes targeting suspected Syrian chemical weapons sites and long-range missile facilities, according to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. West Jerusalem aims to prevent the alleged weapons stockpiles from falling into the hands of hostile groups, Saar told reporters on Monday.
The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens,” he stated.
While the timing and location of the alleged strikes was not disclosed, an AP journalist reported airstrikes near the Mezzeh military airport, located southwest of Damascus, on Sunday. The facility has been a frequent target of Israeli air operations, although it remains unclear who was responsible for the latest attacks.
Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in recent years, targeting what it says are military sites related to the Hezbollah militant group. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the military had been ordered to establish full control over the buffer zone along the Syrian border in the illegally occupied Golan Heights.
He emphasized plans to prevent arms smuggling routes from Iran into Lebanon and to continue targeting “strategic weapons,” such as missiles and air defense systems, to ensure they do not fall into hostile hands.
Armed opposition forces rapidly seized control of Damascus over the weekend. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that after negotiations with the opposition, Bashar Assad stepped down as the country’s president and traveled to Moscow.
Since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, the US, UK, and other Western powers have accused former President Bashar Assad’s government of using chemical weapons against civilians and opposition force, and have used the claims to justify the US military’s occupation of oil-rich areas in northeastern Syria since 2014.
In 2018, the US, UK, and France launched missile strikes on Syrian government sites following allegations from the White Helmets NGO that Assad’s forces used chemical weapons in Douma. The Syrian government denied involvement, with both Damascus and Moscow claiming evidence suggested the attack was staged.
