Mon Dec 09 13:30:54 UTC 2024: ## Israel Confirms Strikes on Syrian Chemical Weapons Depots Following Regime Change

**DAMASCUS/JERUSALEM** – Israel has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Syria targeting chemical weapons and long-range missile systems following a weekend rebel advance that ousted President Bashar al-Assad, according to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Saar stated Monday that the strikes were intended to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of extremist groups.

The strikes, reported by Israeli media on Friday and confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Monday, reportedly targeted multiple locations across coastal and southern Syria. Images from AFP showed significant damage at Mazzeh military airport near Damascus, including destroyed aircraft and nearby weapons depots.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that Israel launched intensive air strikes immediately after the fall of the Assad regime, focusing on weapons and ammunition depots. Israel, which rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria, has conducted hundreds of such operations since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, primarily targeting the Syrian army and Iranian-backed groups.

Foreign Minister Saar emphasized that Israel’s actions were solely motivated by self-preservation. “The steps we took, the only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens,” he said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, asserting that Israel would not tolerate hostile forces establishing themselves along its border.

In a related development, Israel deployed troops into a demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights bordering Syria on Saturday. Saar described this as a temporary security measure. The situation remains tense, as Israel continues to monitor the evolving security landscape in Syria.

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