Israel expands military operation in Syria amid international call for stability

BEIJING -- Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, Israel expanded its military operation in Syrian Monday, not least by launching airstrikes and occupying the buffer zone along the Syrian border.

According to the Britain-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Israel launched a series of airstrikes in Syria, targeting such sites as Syrian navy vessels docked at Latakia Port, military depots in coastal areas, and arms depots in Damascus.

In addition, the attacks hit the 112th Brigade between the cities of Sheikh Miskin and Nawa in the west of Daraa province, as well as military depots near the Mahja town in northern Daraa.

Two civilians were killed in the assaults on the 12th Brigade in the city of Izraa, the observatory added.

In Damascus, a Xinhua correspondent witnessed Israeli warplanes flying overhead.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told reporters on Monday that the Israeli army launched strikes targeting "strategic weapons systems, residual chemical weapons capabilities, and long-range missiles and rockets" in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of "extremist elements," claiming that Israel does not aim to interfere in Syria's internal politics.

He also said that "the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a targeted and temporary operation to take control of areas near the border" with Syria because Syrian militants crossed into the buffer zone between the two countries over the weekend, violating the Agreement on Disengagement signed in 1974 between Israel and Syria.

Airstrikes are expected to continue in the coming days, an anonymous Israeli official told Xinhua.

Multiple regional countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, among others, condemned the occupation, calling for respecting Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

Also on Monday, Syrian online media outlet Sawt al-Asima reported that Muhammad al-Bashir, born in 1983 and an electrical engineer and head of the "Syrian Salvation Government" opposition group in Idlib under the aegis of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been tasked with forming a new Syrian government.

Following the latest developments in Syria, the international community has voiced concern about peace and stability in the country, as United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for calm and "avoiding violence at this sensitive time."

"We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria," said Guterres.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country would continue diplomatic consultations with relevant parties as well as the United Nations to help stabilize the situation, highlighting the necessity to hold dialogue among different segments of the Syrian society.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday voiced readiness to support and coordinate efforts with all stakeholders to secure Syria's territorial integrity and stability, saying that Türkiye will make efforts for the safe return of over 3.5 million Syrian refugees residing in the country back home.

China hopes all parties concerned will proceed from the fundamental interests of the Syrian people and find a political solution to restore stability in Syria as soon as possible, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters on Monday, stressing that the future of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden said that Washington "will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process, led by the UN, to establish a transition away from" the Assad government, while President-elect Donald Trump said on social media that "The United States should have nothing to do with" the situation in Syria.