Israeli airstrikes targeted Syria’s southern city of Daraa last Monday, resulting in over 40 casualties. The assault was followed by an announcement from Tel Aviv confirming the resumption of military operations in Gaza, where intense airstrikes left nearly 1,000 casualties. This simultaneous escalation raises questions about Israel’s objectives and the potential trajectory of the conflict.
The following day, Israeli fighter jets launched additional strikes on military installations in central Syria’s Homs province. According to the official Syrian news agency (SANA), the attacks hit locations in the Shinshar and Shamsin areas, southern Homs in central Syria. The strikes followed an earlier assault on Daraa that left three people dead and more than 40 wounded.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force carried out a sweeping offensive across Gaza, with the government instructing its military to intensify operations against Hamas. Israeli state broadcaster Kan reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz had ordered a decisive military push, citing Hamas’s refusal to negotiate on the release of hostages. U.S. media outlet Axios further reported that Israel resumed operations after Hamas rejected mediated offers.
Read more: https://963media.com/en/19/03/2025/how-does-damascus-respond-to-israeli-and-turkish-strikes/
What Does Israel Want in Syria?
Despite launching operations inside Syria immediately after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, Israel’s latest military maneuvers, particularly its deeper incursions into Daraa and Quneitra, suggest an evolving strategy. The increased presence and inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli officials raise concerns about Israel’s broader intentions and the potential scope of its involvement in Syria.
Syrian journalist Faras Alawi, based in France, believes Netanyahu is leveraging prolonged conflict to secure his political survival. Speaking to “+963,” Alawi stated, “Netanyahu seeks to extend the conflict to avoid facing legal repercussions for the October 7 events while maintaining his grip on power. He also aims to establish strategic buffer zones in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and southern Syria as part of his legacy.”
Alawi predicts that Israeli incursions into Syrian territory will persist intermittently, with ongoing strikes against the remnants of the former regime’s military infrastructure.
Read also: https://963media.com/en/19/03/2025/syria-homs-daraa-israeli/#
Leverage for Diplomatic Bargaining
Raed Al-Masri, a professor of political thought and international studies based in Beirut, argues that Israel’s concurrent escalation in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon is an attempt to impose its military dominance. Speaking to “+963,” he explained, “Israel considers itself victorious and seeks to cement this perception through aggressive military actions in these three regions. It also aims to use these operations as bargaining chips in future normalization talks.”
Al-Masri anticipates that Israel will intensify its operations in Syria to exacerbate political, sectarian, and ethnic divisions within the country. “A fragmented Syria serves Israel’s interests, encouraging various minority groups to seek alignment with Israeli policies,” he added. He also criticized Syria’s transitional government for failing to address minority concerns, which he believes has driven some groups toward Israeli alliances.
In late February, Netanyahu explicitly stated that Israel would not permit the new Syrian administration to deploy forces in the country’s south. He declared that “Israel is responsible for securing this region and will ensure it remains a demilitarized zone.”
U.S. Strikes in Yemen: A Parallel Conflict
Dr. Mukhtar Ghabashi, Secretary-General of the Farabi Center for Political Studies, attributes Israel’s aggressive posture to unwavering American support and a lack of coordinated Arab resistance. “Israel faces no real consequences for its actions,” he told “+963.” “With strong U.S. backing and a passive Arab world, Tel Aviv feels emboldened to act with impunity, whether in Gaza, Syria, or Lebanon. It has already violated the 1974 disengagement agreement by occupying Mount Hermon and pushing further into Quneitra.”
The Israeli escalation in Gaza and Syria coincides with a renewed U.S. military campaign in Yemen. American airstrikes on Thursday targeted multiple sites, including the Al-Asa’id region in Saada province, the coastal city of Al-Hudaydah, and the capital, Sanaa. Yemeni media sources report casualties from strikes that also hit Al-Bayda and Al-Jawf.
Read also: https://963media.com/en/18/03/2025/israeli-airstrikes-target-military-sites-in-southern-syria/#
Redrawing the Military Map
Political analyst Faris Nabil told “963+” that the U.S. offensive in Yemen is part of broader efforts to reshape regional military and security dynamics, particularly by curbing Iranian influence. The U.S. had previously tolerated the Houthis as a leverage tool but now views them as a direct threat to global security and economic stability.
“The international community largely ignored Houthi transgressions when they destabilized Yemen,” Nabil observed. “Now, with shifting geopolitical priorities, we are witnessing an effort to decisively alter the balance of power in the region.”
Regarding Israel-Syria relations, Alawi believes a full peace agreement remains unlikely given the new Syrian administration’s lack of electoral legitimacy. “Any formal normalization deal would require a national referendum,” he noted. However, he suggested that Israel and Syria might reach interim security agreements, such as reaffirming the 1974 ceasefire lines.
Meanwhile, Al-Masri predicts that the recent escalation in Gaza will soon lead to a negotiated settlement. “Netanyahu aims to use military pressure to force Hamas into concessions on hostages while solidifying his government’s position by appeasing hardliners like Itamar Ben-Gvir,” he said. “This strategy is designed to stabilize his fractured coalition.”
