Days after the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Israel launched multiple airstrikes at Syrian military targets and deployed ground troops both inside and beyond the country's demilitarised buffer zone for the first time in 50 years.

On Tuesday (Dec 10), the Israeli military announced that they had launched nearly 480 strikes on Syria in the last two days, and attacked the country's strategic weapon stockpiles.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the Syrian fleet was destroyed by the Israeli navy in an operation which they called “a great success.”

Out of the Israeli Air Force's 480 strikes, nearly 350 were manned aircraft strikes which targetted airfields, anti-aircraft batteries, missiles, drones, fighter jets, tanks and weapon production sites in Homs, Tartus, Damascus, Palmyra and Latakia, said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).&nbsp;

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⭕ In 48 hours, the IDF struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻: 
 
⚓ Naval Operations: Israeli Navy missile ships struck 2 Syrian Navy facilities… <a href="https://t.co/6N1fz7BiMF">pic.twitter.com/6N1fz7BiMF</a>
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1866559502100861115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The rest of the strikes were carried out to support ground operations in which weapons depots, military structures, launchers and firing positions were targetted.

The IDF further stated that two Syrian naval facilities were also struck by its ships. There were 15 vessels docked in the naval facilities.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-evacuates-75-nationals-from-syria-as-rebels-topple-assads-regime-783089">India evacuates 75 nationals from Syria as rebels topple Assad's regime</a>

In the strikes, dozens of sea-to-sea missiles were destroyed. According to the military, 70-80 per cent of the strategic military capabilities of the previous regime had been destroyed.&nbsp;

<h2>Israeli PM Netanyahu says 'changing the face of the Middle East'&nbsp;</h2>

A day before the airstrikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime “a new and dramatic chapter.”

“The collapse of the Syrian regime is a direct result of the severe blows with which we have struck Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran,” Netanyahu said in a press conference on Monday (Dec 9).&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;UN: Bombardment Of Syria Must Stop

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-bombardment-of-syria-must-stop-783019/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“The axis has not yet disappeared but as I promised – we are changing the face of the Middle East. We have no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of Syria,” he stated in a video statement, “but we certainly do intend to do what is necessary to ensure our security.”

“We want correct relations with the new regime in Syria. But if this regime allows Iran to reestablish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah, or attacks us, we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it. What happened to the previous regime will also happen to this regime,” the prime minister said.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Days after the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Israel launched multiple airstrikes at Syrian military targets and deployed ground troops both inside and beyond the country's demilitarised buffer zone for the first time in 50 years.

Days after the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Israel launched multiple airstrikes at Syrian military targets and deployed ground troops both inside and beyond the country's demilitarised buffer zone for the first time in 50 years. On Tuesday (Dec 10), the Israeli military announced that they had launched nearly 480 strikes on Syria in the last two days, and attacked the country's strategic weapon stockpiles. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the Syrian fleet was destroyed by the Israeli navy in an operation which they called “a great success.” Out of the Israeli Air Force's 480 strikes, nearly 350 were manned aircraft strikes which targetted airfields, anti-aircraft batteries, missiles, drones, fighter jets, tanks and weapon production sites in Homs, Tartus, Damascus, Palmyra and Latakia, said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). ⭕ In 48 hours, the IDF struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻: ⚓ Naval Operations: Israeli Navy missile ships struck 2 Syrian Navy facilities… pic.twitter.com/6N1fz7BiMF — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 10, 2024 × The rest of the strikes were carried out to support ground operations in which weapons depots, military structures, launchers and firing positions were targetted. The IDF further stated that two Syrian naval facilities were also struck by its ships. There were 15 vessels docked in the naval facilities. Also Read: India evacuates 75 nationals from Syria as rebels topple Assad's regime In the strikes, dozens of sea-to-sea missiles were destroyed. According to the military, 70-80 per cent of the strategic military capabilities of the previous regime had been destroyed. Israeli PM Netanyahu says 'changing the face of the Middle East' A day before the airstrikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime “a new and dramatic chapter.” “The collapse of the Syrian regime is a direct result of the severe blows with which we have struck Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran,” Netanyahu said in a press conference on Monday (Dec 9). Watch: UN: Bombardment Of Syria Must Stop “The axis has not yet disappeared but as I promised – we are changing the face of the Middle East. We have no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of Syria,” he stated in a video statement, “but we certainly do intend to do what is necessary to ensure our security.” “We want correct relations with the new regime in Syria. But if this regime allows Iran to reestablish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah, or attacks us, we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it. What happened to the previous regime will also happen to this regime,” the prime minister said. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel pounds Syria 480 times, destroys 80 per cent of military assets after Assad's ouster

A lightning offensive led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) culminated with the historic toppling of President Bashar-al Assad's regime in Syria's 13-year-long conflict.&nbsp;

HTS, which had emerged from al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, in its surprise assault captured more than 50&nbsp;towns and villages in Syria followed by some of its strategic cities and eventually stormed into the capital Damascus on Sunday (Dec 8).&nbsp;

The United Nations, United States, Turkey and other nations have designated HTS as a terrorist organisation.

<h2>All about Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)</h2>

In 2011, HTS started as Jabhat al-Nusra, which was an affiliate of Al Qaeda and was famous for its brutality and effectiveness.

In English, “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” means "Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant".

Earlier, it was aligned with the Free Syrian Army in the uprising against President Assad.&nbsp;

However, the group's strict jihadist ideology soon led to its alienation from other rebel groups.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bashar-al-assad-syrias-tyrant-who-pushed-the-country-into-a-decade-long-civil-war-782409">Bashar Al-Assad: Syria's 'tyrant' who pushed the country into a decade-long civil war</a>

HTS is headed by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who is a former leader of Jabhat al-Nusra.

The group follows the Salafi-jihadist ideology and its aim has always been toppling the government of Assad and establishing Islamic rule in the country. 
&nbsp; 
Islamic State (IS) group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was also involved in the formation of HTS.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrias-13-year-war-a-timeline-of-key-events-since-2011-782392">Syria's 13-year civil war: Timeline of key events since 2011 - What you should know</a>

The group was renamed HTS in 2016 after the leader of the group Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani publicly broke ranks with Al Qaeda.

HTS had set up its power base in the north-western province of Idlib and worked as the region's de facto local administration.

Watch:&nbsp;Syrian Army Command Tells Officers That Assad's Rule Has Ended, Officer Says

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HTS has also been governing parts of the country through the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), providing essential services like food aid and welfare programmes for nearly four million residents in its territories.&nbsp;

The group has also taken under its control critical resources such as the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, through which humanitarian aid is facilitated.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

A lightning offensive led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) culminated with the historic toppling of President Bashar-al Assad's regime in Syria's 13-year-long conflict.

A lightning offensive led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) culminated with the historic toppling of President Bashar-al Assad's regime in Syria's 13-year-long conflict. HTS, which had emerged from al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, in its surprise assault captured more than 50 towns and villages in Syria followed by some of its strategic cities and eventually stormed into the capital Damascus on Sunday (Dec 8). The United Nations, United States, Turkey and other nations have designated HTS as a terrorist organisation. All about Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) In 2011, HTS started as Jabhat al-Nusra, which was an affiliate of Al Qaeda and was famous for its brutality and effectiveness. In English, “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” means "Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant". Earlier, it was aligned with the Free Syrian Army in the uprising against President Assad. However, the group's strict jihadist ideology soon led to its alienation from other rebel groups. Also Read: Bashar Al-Assad: Syria's 'tyrant' who pushed the country into a decade-long civil war HTS is headed by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who is a former leader of Jabhat al-Nusra. The group follows the Salafi-jihadist ideology and its aim has always been toppling the government of Assad and establishing Islamic rule in the country. Islamic State (IS) group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was also involved in the formation of HTS. Also Read: Syria's 13-year civil war: Timeline of key events since 2011 - What you should know The group was renamed HTS in 2016 after the leader of the group Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani publicly broke ranks with Al Qaeda. HTS had set up its power base in the north-western province of Idlib and worked as the region's de facto local administration. Watch: Syrian Army Command Tells Officers That Assad's Rule Has Ended, Officer Says HTS has also been governing parts of the country through the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), providing essential services like food aid and welfare programmes for nearly four million residents in its territories. The group has also taken under its control critical resources such as the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, through which humanitarian aid is facilitated. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Who are the Syrian rebels who overthrew Bashar-al Assad's 24-year-old regime in two weeks?

Bashar al-Assad has completed 20 years as the president of Syria but, Syria today is a far cry from the vision that he had projected in July 2000. In 20 years the fate of a diverse, culturally-rich nation changed to the definitive war-torn hellscape that it is today.

Bashar-al-Assad completes 20 years as president of Syria

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Israel pounds Syria 480 times, destroys 80 per cent of military assets after Assad's ouster

Who are the Syrian rebels who overthrew Bashar-al Assad's 24-year-old regime in two weeks?

Bashar-al-Assad completes 20 years as president of Syria