Along with other military actions, Israel has been engaged in a bombing campaign against Syrian military sites. Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly instructed the military to continue to destroy “strategic weapons” in Syria that Israel fears could fall into the hands of hostile forces, including “surface-to-air missiles, air defense systems, surface-to-surface missiles, cruise missiles, long-range rockets, and coast-to-sea missiles.” Reports are that the Israeli air force conducted 250-300 air strikes on Syrian military bases from Sunday to Monday (Dec. 8-9). The targets struck reportedly include the port in Latakia, military facilities in Damascus, the Qabr Essit Airport south of Damascus, which photographs appeared showing damaged and destroyed helicopters, and the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center, north of Damascus. Syrian security sources said that strikes also hit Qamishli air base in northeast Syria, and the Shinshar base in the countryside of Homs, among others, reported the Times of Israel.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed Dec. 9 that Israel had struck what it suspects were chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria on Dec. 8, saying it did so in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors. At a briefing for foreign media, Sa’ar stressed that Israel was acting as a precaution and that “the only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens.”
