At dawn on Thursday, March 27, Israeli aircrafts launched a series of heavy airstrikes on the outskirts of the western Syrian port of Latakia, targeting multiple strategic sites, according to Syria’s state news agency, SANA.
As Israel intensifies its operations deep inside Syria, questions arise regarding the true objectives behind these repeated strikes, their connection to broader regional geopolitical shifts, and the stances of both international and regional powers escalating conflict.
SANA quoted a Syrian security source saying that Israeli fighter jets had carried out multiple air raids on areas surrounding the White Port and the city of Latakia. The source added that authorities were assessing the damage and working to confirm whether there were any civilian casualties or injuries among workers at the targeted sites.
These attacks follow a pattern of increasing Israeli military actions in Syria. Just last Tuesday, the Israeli army announced it had struck military positions at the Palmyra and Tiyas (T-4) airbases in eastern Homs province. Israel claimed the strikes were aimed at neutralizing the “military capabilities” of Iranian-backed militias, which it considers a direct threat to its national security.
Defending Security or an Expanding Influence?
Israel’s Ambassador to Russia, Alexander Ben Zvi, stated that the Israeli military’s operations in Syria are aimed at “ensuring Israel’s national security”, emphasizing that Tel Aviv has no intention of seizing new territories. However, he stressed that these operations target the remaining presence of Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian-backed factions inside Syria, with the airstrikes intended to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry to these groups.
Ben Zevi noted that the recent strikes, both those near the Syrian-Lebanese border and deeper inside Syrian territory, are part of a broader strategy to counter “potential threats”, as he described them.
Read more: The Deferred Democracy in Syria
Defending Security or an Expanding Influence?
Speaking to +963, journalist and political analyst Samer al-Khaleoui argued that Israel’s military escalation in Syria goes beyond merely countering Iranian and Hezbollah influence. He suggested that shifts in Turkish foreign policy and Ankara’s rapprochement with the new Syrian government have pushed Israel to strengthen its alignment with Moscow.
“The Russian presence in Syria may actually serve Israel’s interest more than supporting the Syrian state itself, as Moscow is keen to maintain a strategic balance that prevents the situation from spiralling out of control,” al-Khaleoui added.
He further asserted that Israel, through its intensified military operations, is seeking to impose new realities on the ground, weakening the Syrian State, fostering division, and pressuring future Syrian leadership into potential agreements. Additionally, he pointed out that the Israeli strikes could be a preemptive measure against any Turkish attempts to establish bases inside Syria.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ali al-Awar, a professor specializing in regional and international conflict resolution, warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to reshape the Middle East through a systematic military escalation targeting Syria and other countries in the region.
Despite his tensions with the U.S. administration, Netanyahu “continues to receive direct American support for his policies toward Syria, al-Awar said.
He noted that Israeli strikes have become “increasingly systematic”, targeting military infrastructure, airports, and key installations, in blatant violation of international law. He warned that the continuation of these attacks could lead to an unprecedented escalation, potentially triggering a regional war, especially if Iran decided to respond military.”
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Regional Backlash: Arab and International Condemnation of Israeli Attacks
Last week, Israeli aircraft carried out airstrikes on a military outpost and officers’ residences in the town of Najha, south of the Syrian capital, Damascus. Dozens were reported killed and wounded by Israeli strikes targeting officers’ residences in the city of Daraa. In parallel with these repeated air raids, the Israeli military has also conducted incursions into rural Quneitra and Daraa in southwestern Syria.
Israel’s escalating military actions have provoked strong Arab and international reactions. Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for an international investigation into what it described as “Israeli crimes against innocent civilians”, reaffirming its opposition to any attempts to impose geopolitical changes in the south of the country.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Algeria also condemned Israel’s actions, calling them a blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability. In an official statement, Saudi Arabia urged the UN Security Council to take action to halt Israeli aggression. Meanwhile, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry described the strikes as a “dangerous escalation that will only fuel further conflict in the region.”
As Israeli airstrikes continue across Syria, concerns are growing that these operations could escalate into a broader confrontation involving regional and international actors. Would the so-called “Axis of Resistance” remain on the sidelines, or could the situation shift dramatically if Iran chooses to respond directly?
“The new Syrian government, after the fall of the Assad regime, will not accept the status quo but will prioritize reconstruction and development over military escalation.” al-Awar noted.
Experts warn that the continued Israeli operations could provoke military responses from various factions, both within Syria and on other fronts, such as Lebanon and Iraq. Any direct Israeli attack on Iranian positions inside Iran itself could trigger a conflict that would be difficult to contain.
