Intense IDF Strikes Reported on Former Assad Regime’s Military Sites in Syria

Latest Developments

• Israeli Air Force Reportedly Strikes Weapons Sites in Tartus: The IDF reportedly targeted weapons sites belonging to the ousted regime of former President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian coastal region of Tartus on December 16, including air defense units and surface-to-surface missile depots. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, these were “the heaviest strikes in Syria’s coastal region since the start of strikes in 2012.” The strikes were not confirmed by Israel, but footage circulated online showing a massive explosion attributed to one of the airstrikes near Tartus.

• IDF Preventative Campaign Against Former-Regime Military Sites Continues: The latest reported IDF strikes in Syria came a week after Israel carried out an extensive air campaign that destroyed 80 percent of Assad’s military in the wake of his overthrow by Syrian rebels on December 8. The IDF said it had struck over 350 targets, including air defense units, surface-to-surface missile depots, and chemical weapons sites previously operated by Assad’s military that now risk falling into the hands of jihadist rebel groups.

• Israeli Defense Minister Says Threat From Syria Increasing: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on December 15 that there are “immediate risks” to Israel that “have not disappeared, and the recent developments in Syria are increasing the intensity of the threat.” Katz emphasized that “Israel must be able to defend itself, on its own, against any threat.”

FDD Expert Response

“For over 50 years, Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar accumulated massive stockpiles of conventional and chemical weapons and stored these systems throughout Syria. Israel estimated that they destroyed 80 percent of these weapons during the first two days of airstrikes after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The massive strikes in Tartus over the past 24 hours won’t be the end, as the IDF has much more work to do to keep these dangerous weapons from falling into the hands of terrorist groups that now control much of Syria.” — Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow and Editor of FDD’s Long War Journal

“Observers of current events in the Middle East should take note of Israel’s military achievements over the last 15 months — significant military operations on multiple fronts against terrorist groups backed by Iran and, more recently, preventing dangerous arms from falling into the hands of jihadist groups in Syria. Israel’s campaign may extend over the coming weeks, or even months, as it navigates the complex landscape of security threats on the Syrian front.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“As the IDF reportedly continues targeting the Assad regime’s leftover weapons, Israel should inform the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) about the chemical weapons sites it previously targeted so the OPCW can secure them from Syrian rebels. The OPCW must oversee the verified dismantling of any remaining chemical weapons assets to ensure that they do not fall into the hands of terrorists. Israel and the United States should use Turkish interlocutors to make it clear to jihadist groups that they are monitoring these sites and will further destroy or degrade them if necessary.” — Andrea Stricker, Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director and Research Fellow

“Israel is helping the region and the world by removing the former Assad regime’s stockpiles of weapons, including chemical weapons. Israel has carried out strikes on hundreds of targets to prevent these dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands while continuing to stress the importance of Syria’s new government pursuing peace with its neighbors.” — Seth J. Frantzman, Adjunct Fellow