Why have Israeli attacks on Syria surged since the fall of Assad?

Summary

Following the fall of President Bashar Assad, Israel launched a major offensive across Syria, capturing the Golan Heights and targeting Syrian military positions. Israel's actions stem from the collapse of a 50-year treaty and the rise of Ahmed Shara, a former extremist now leading Syria's interim government. Israel justifies its strikes, claiming the protection of the Jewish minority and fear of extremist control over Syria’s weapons. Meanwhile, Syria condemns these actions, accusing Israel of using local proxies to undermine its government and escalate tensions in the long-standing conflict.

Takeaways

• 😀 Israel launched a major offensive across Syria just two days after the fall of former President Bashar Assad.
• 😀 Israel seized the entire Golan Heights, conducted around 350 airstrikes, and destroyed 80% of Syria's military capabilities.
• 😀 The Golan Heights, an elevated plateau, was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, but is still internationally recognized as part of Syria.
• 😀 A 50-year-old treaty, which established a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights, collapsed after Assad's government failure.
• 😀 Israel claims the treaty no longer holds and seized the rest of the Golan Heights to prevent hostile forces from being close to its border.
• 😀 Israel's continued bombardment of Syrian territory is seen as a response to the control of Assad's weapon deposits by extremist groups.
• 😀 Ahmed Shara, a former ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliate, now serves as Syria's interim president, leading a government that Israel perceives as a security threat.
• 😀 Shara has distanced himself from extremist groups like al-Qaeda and attempted to change his image over the past decade.
• 😀 Israel justifies its actions by claiming to protect the Jewish minority in Syria, despite many Jewish leaders rejecting Israel's outreach efforts.
• 😀 Tensions between Israel and Syria have escalated, with Israel launching missile strikes near Syria's presidential palace and Syria condemning these actions as destabilizing.

Q & A

What event triggered Israel's offensive across Syria?

Israel launched a sweeping offensive across Syria just two days after the fall of former President Bashar Assad.

What were the immediate actions taken by Israel during its offensive?

Israel seized the entire Golan Heights, carried out about 350 air strikes, and destroyed about 80% of Syria's military capabilities.

Why is the Golan Heights significant in the context of the Israel-Syria conflict?

The Golan Heights is an elevated plateau between Israel and Syria, which Israel captured during the 1967 Six-Day War. Despite being occupied by Israel, it is still internationally recognized as part of Syria.

What was the significance of the 1974 treaty between Israel and Syria?

The 1974 treaty established a UN-patrolled buffer zone, which was meant to maintain peace and separate Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights.

What was Israel's justification for its actions after the collapse of the agreement?

Israel claimed that the treaty no longer held due to the collapse of the Assad government and took action to secure its border by seizing the rest of the Golan Heights.

Who is Ahmed Shara, and why is he significant in this conflict?

Ahmed Shara is the new interim president of Syria, formerly the head of an Islamist group previously associated with ISIS and al-Qaeda. He is now leading the formation of Syria's new government.

How has Israel characterized the new Syrian government under Ahmed Shara?

Israel has characterized the new government as a threat, citing the potential control of Assad regime's weapon deposits by a group led by Shara, who is viewed as an extremist.

Why have some Jewish leaders rejected Israel's outreach efforts to the new Syrian government?

Jewish leaders, who are a minority living on both sides of the border, have rejected Israel's outreach efforts, despite Israel claiming they were trying to protect the minority from the new government.

What was the purpose of the Israeli missile strike near Syria's presidential palace?

The Israeli missile strike near Syria's presidential palace was described as a 'warning shot' to send a message, according to Israeli officials.

How has Syria responded to Israeli military actions?

Syria has condemned Israel's military actions, particularly the missile strike on Damascus, calling it an attempt to destabilize the country and escalate tensions.