Israel says it is striking Syrian military sites to keep them out of “the hands of extremists.” The rebels who toppled the Assad government began laying out their plans while rival groups fought fierce battles for territory.The New York Times reports that on Dec. 10, 2024 at 10:46 a.m. ET, Israel announced that it had carried out airstrikes in Syria overnight, destroying the country’s navy. This comes as Israel continues to target strategic capabilities in Syria, despite warnings that its actions could lead to further conflict and disrupt the transition of power to an interim government.
According to Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, the military operation was a success and photos from the Syrian port city of Latakia show the remains of ships sunk at their dock. While Katz did not specify the immediate threat posed by Syria’s navy, he stated that Israel was targeting capabilities that could potentially harm Israel.
Since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, Israeli warplanes have conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria, with the goal of preventing chemical weapons from falling into the hands of extremists. However, the rebel alliance forming an interim government in Syria has confirmed the appointment of Mohammed al-Bashir as prime minister, who will lead a transitional government until March 1.
In addition, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called on Israel to halt its military operations in Syria, stating that de-escalation is necessary. He expressed concern over continued Israeli movements and bombardments into Syrian territory.
Meanwhile, the White Helmets, a Syrian volunteer rescue group, has completed a search for detainees at the notorious Sednaya Prison on the outskirts of Damascus. They reported finding no hidden cells, but thousands of people are believed to have been held and tortured at the prison. The rebel alliance has vowed to pursue and punish those who held senior positions under al-Assad’s regime.
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