After weeks of relative quiet, Israeli warplanes have once again launched airstrikes on military targets along Syria’s coastline, a development that’s stirring unease and reshaping the region’s delicate security balance.
The strikes, which began around ten days ago, hit several sites in the countryside of Latakia and Tartus, including key military positions such as the 107th Brigade and the Al-Blata base near the local cement housing complex. The attacks have put communities on edge, with local authorities urging residents to stay indoors in anticipation of possible follow-up strikes.
This escalation couldn’t have come at a more sensitive time. Syria is amid a political transition, with a new government taking power following the collapse of the previous regime. The country is focused on rebuilding shattered institutions and trying to chart a path toward stability.
Adding to the tension, Israeli warplanes on Sunday struck a Hamas operative in the Beit Jinn area of southern Syria, close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel’s military confirmed the attack but offered few details about the outcome.
Read more: Israel Strikes Hamas Target in Southern Syria Amid Rising Tensions
Part of a Long Game, Not a Sudden Shift
According to Syrian journalist and researcher Ali Eid, editor-in-chief of Enab Baladi, these airstrikes are not a sudden flare-up but part of Israel’s long-standing strategy in Syria.
“Israel hasn’t changed course. This is a continuation of its broader effort to target what it sees as strategic threats,” Eid told “963+”.
Since Syria’s transitional leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa took office, Israel has reportedly carried out more than 700 airstrikes across the country, including several on the coast. Leaked reports suggest some of the targeted sites stored long-range weapons, such as naval missiles and surface-to-surface systems, capabilities Israel considers unacceptable risks if left unchecked.
Eid believes the strikes are calculated, sending clear political messages without crossing the red lines set by international and regional understandings. He pointed to recent security agreements emerging from talks in Baku, which included, among other things, frameworks for managing the relationship between Damascus and Washington.
Israel’s Message: We Haven’t Gone Anywhere
Syrian military expert Colonel Akram Abu Mijnah agrees that these strikes are nothing new.
“Israel has never really stopped. It picks its moments to remind everyone it’s still in the picture, especially when it feels political or regional pressure,” Abu Mijnah told “+963“. “Strikes along the coast aren’t unusual. The locations may shift, but that region has always been part of Israel’s target list.”
When asked about Syria’s ability to respond, Abu Mijneh was blunt: “Syria’s current air defences simply aren’t capable of stopping Israeli jets, which typically strike from safe distances without facing any real threat.”
As for whether these strikes are linked to Syria’s internal security tensions, he said: “There may be messages aimed at Iran or at rogue groups on the ground. Israel often claims it’s hitting leftover weapons depots from the former regime, but solid evidence is hard to come by.”
For now, Abu Mijnah believes the strikes are mostly about sending psychological and political signals rather than shifting the military balance on the ground. “The new Syrian leadership seems focused on de-escalation and diplomacy. They’re prioritizing rebuilding the army and stabilizing the economy instead of getting dragged into regional confrontations they can’t win.”
Read more: U.S. Syria Envoy Visits Israel, Tours Golan Heights Amid Cross-Border Tensions
Cautious Messaging, International Pushback
So far, Syria’s official media coverage of the airstrikes has been measured and factual, steering clear of aggressive language. Ali Eid sees this as part of a deliberate strategy. “The new government doesn’t seem willing, or able, to mount a direct military response. They’re focused on internal stability, not on opening up new fronts.”
Internationally, the strikes have drawn condemnation from several quarters, including the UN’s special envoy to Syria, as well as European and Arab allies of Damascus. Many see these attacks as a threat to regional stability and a potential step backward for Syria, which is trying to move beyond years of war.
Eid concluded by noting that while these strikes are carefully designed to avoid breaking international agreements, their frequency and persistence could eventually undermine Syria’s fragile recovery. “Israel is at a crossroads now,” he said. “It can either keep escalating or start working within the new international arrangements aimed at stabilizing the region.”
