IDF strikes military targets in Syria
On Friday, the IDF carried out airstrikes targeting infrastructure and military sites belonging to the Syrian government in southern Syria, saying the strikes were in response to attacks on the Druze.
The IDF has referred to the government in Syria as a “regime.” The Assad regime in Syria was a partner of Iran and Hezbollah.
In theory, the new government in Damascus and Israel share regional views regarding Iran and Hezbollah. However, Jerusalem has not viewed the new government in Damascus in a positive light.
The Trump administration has sought to smooth things over, including through trilateral meetings in January. However, the US is now focused on the ongoing conflict with Iran and Hezbollah, leaving Syria in a difficult position.
It borders both Iraq and Lebanon, where further conflict is currently unfolding. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have threatened Damascus, and they have carried out hundreds of attacks on US forces and on the Kurdistan Region.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Foreign Ministry has condemned the Israeli airstrikes as a “brutal Israeli attack.” Syria says it “considers it a flagrant violation of the principles of international law and the UN Charter, and a blatant attack on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Saudi Arabia also condemned the strikes. “The Kingdom reiterates its firm rejection of this blatant aggression and Israel’s violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement, and called on the international community to intervene and end “Israel’s violations of international laws and norms.”
Syria to prioritize avoiding international conflict
For Syria, the priority is to avoid being dragged into the region’s conflicts. It has support in that effort from Riyadh and Ankara.
The US’s ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, is also the US’s envoy to Syria and is also playing a growing role in Iraq.
On March 17, he noted, “Many thanks to Erbil and Baghdad for their work to reach an agreement at this critical time to resume energy exports and improve prosperity for the region. Your courage, steadfast cooperation, and commitment to the diplomatic path have been truly invaluable. The United States remains fully committed to supporting these important efforts in this time of crisis.”
The next day, he wrote on X/Twitter that he was “honored to chair the March 18 UNSC meeting on Syria, on the fifteenth anniversary of the launch of a revolution inside Syria.”
“We remember the courage of those who first marched peacefully in 2011, calling for dignity, reform, and freedom on Syria’s Revolution Day,” Barrack stated. “Their voices helped open the door to a new chapter for Syria. The United States honors the resilience of all Syrian people as they work toward a stable, unified, and prosperous future.”