On the 10th, Reuters reported that Israel launched an attack on the key Syrian port city of Latakia on Monday.
Notably, Latakia is home to a critical container port, and the attack caused explosions and fires, with the container terminal being affected.
According to reports, Israel targeted an air defense facility near the city of Latakia, damaging Syrian naval vessels and military warehouses.
Two regional security sources told Reuters that the targets of the attack were a security complex and a government research center, which Israel previously claimed were being used by Iran for missile development.
Additionally, sources indicated that Israel carried out attacks on at least seven targets in southwestern Syria earlier on Sunday, including the Khalkhala airbase north of Sweida.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Tuesday that Israel’s goal is to establish a “sterile air defense zone” in southern Syria, to be enforced without permanent troops. The Israeli military said that a series of airstrikes had destroyed most of Syria’s strategic weapon reserves.
Within 48 hours after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government, Israel’s military carried out approximately 480 airstrikes across Syria, hitting most of Syria’s strategic weapon reserves.
Among the 480 attacks launched by the Israeli Air Force, around 350 were manned aircraft strikes, targeting airports, air defense batteries, missiles, drones, fighter jets, tanks, and weapons production sites in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the remaining attacks were in support of ground operations against weapon depots, military structures, launchers, and firing positions.
Additionally, missile ships attacked Syrian naval facilities at the Al-Bayda and Latakia ports, where 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked.
It is known that for years, Israel has been conducting airstrikes on targets within Syria linked to Iran, but after Hamas attacked Israeli territory on October 7th, leading to the Gaza war, Israel has increased the intensity of its airstrikes.
