Israeli forces launched a series of airstrikes on Monday, targeting a military site in Qardaha, located in the mountains of Latakia province, northwest Syria, according to a post on the military's Telegram channel. The site was reportedly being used as a storage facility for arms belonging to the previous Syrian government.
Syrian sources revealed that the raids struck three former Syrian army assets, including a radar station north of the city, a weapons depot, and a berth near Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartous, which is a significant distance away from Latakia. The fact that the targets were spread out across different locations suggests a high level of planning and coordination on the part of the Israeli military.
The Syrian state news agency SANA also confirmed the strikes in the vicinity of Tartous, although it reported that the attacks caused no casualties. This is a significant development, as it suggests that the Israeli military may have been attempting to minimize harm to civilians and focus on targeting specific military assets.
The airstrikes are the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Syria, which has been fueled by tensions over Iran's growing presence in the region. Israel has long been concerned about the threat posed by Iranian-backed militias in Syria, and has launched numerous airstrikes against targets in the country in recent years.
The targeting of Qardaha is also significant, as it is the hometown of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a stronghold of the Syrian government. The fact that Israel felt confident enough to launch airstrikes in this area suggests that it is willing to take bold action to protect its interests and prevent the spread of Iranian influence in the region.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Syrian government will respond to the airstrikes. The fact that SANA reported no casualties may suggest that the government is attempting to downplay the significance of the attacks, although it is likely that there will be a response of some kind in the coming days.