Throughout Shabbat, the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of strikes on Syrian territory. Numerous targets were hit, including anti-aircraft guns, surface-to-air missile launchers, and other installations. These actions are part of a broader Israeli operation aimed at protecting the Druze population from attacks by Islamic militias and new government forces seeking to establish control over Druze enclaves — primarily in the Damascus area, but also in other regions of the country.
The IDF’s press service emphasises that Israel will not allow hostile forces to enter Druze villages and settlements.
At the same time, judging by the broader context, the strikes on Syria serve another equally important purpose: the systematic destruction of the remaining Syrian military potential. Since the collapse of the previous regime and the flight of Bashar al-Assad to Moscow — may his name be blotted out — the IDF has been consistently dismantling the weaponry left behind on Syrian territory. This refers to thousands of anti-aircraft guns and hundreds of air defence missile batteries once held by the Syrian army.
It is known that immediately after Assad’s flight, Israel destroyed around 90 anti-aircraft batteries. Later, the remaining batteries, as well as a significant number of anti-aircraft installations, came under attack. By my estimate, hundreds of such weapons may still be present in Syria, but their capabilities are limited — they can only fire at low-flying targets and do not pose a serious threat to Israeli fighter jets.
Thus, the IDF’s actions go beyond a tactical measure to prevent attacks on the Druze population: this is a strategic objective — to prevent the new Syrian regime from rebuilding military infrastructure that could pose a future threat to Israel. The strikes target not only those attacking the Druze, but the very concept of hostile rearmament. Israel is acting pre-emptively — decisively, precisely, and with clear calculation.
Against the backdrop of escalating tensions both in Syria and in Gaza, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced the cancellation of his planned visit to Azerbaijan — a country bordering Iran and playing a key role in Israel’s regional cooperation in the Iranian direction.