Stoking Fires

Israel launched a ground incursion into Syria and conducted a wave of airstrikes on the country Tuesday, a move that follows the collapse of the Syrian government and is drawing widespread international condemnation and fears of further destabilization in the region, NBC News reported.

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to establish a “sterile defense zone” in southern Syria, with troops securing positions within the United Nations-patrolled buffer zone near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights established after a 1974 ceasefire agreement.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 300 airstrikes targeting military infrastructure have been carried out since Sunday, when Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country.

Katz said the move is aimed at preventing Assad’s arsenal of rockets and chemical weapons from falling into extremist hands. Airstrikes also targeted strategic locations, including near the capital Damascus, and a naval base in the western port of Latakia.

While Israel said its actions were self-defense, critics argue the moves exploit Syria’s chaos and undermine international law.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey accused Israel of violating Syria’s sovereignty, with Qatari officials warning the attacks could lead to “more violence and tensions.” The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called for an immediate halt to the attacks, describing them as a violation of the 1974 agreement, the Hill added.

Iran echoed these criticisms, calling on the UN Security Council to intervene.

Analysts cautioned that Israel’s actions carry significant risks of backlash from extremist groups and further destabilization in the region.

“If Israel expands beyond the buffer zone or establishes a permanent presence, it will embolden radical elements and undermine diplomacy,” geopolitical analyst Michael A. Horowitz told NBC News.

The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the offensive to overthrow Assad, has pledged not to use or allow access to chemical weapons, though its designation as a terrorist organization and its ties to al Qaeda have raised concerns about Syria’s future governance.

The attacks come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified Tuesday in his long-running corruption trial, marking the first time a sitting Israeli leader has testified in court, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Despite his legal battles, Netanyahu has credited Israel’s military actions with contributing to Assad’s downfall, declaring it a “direct result” of Israeli operations against Iran and its proxies.