Syria: Suspected Israeli airstrikes target sites near Damascus Feb. 15

Event

Suspected Israeli airstrikes targeted unspecified targets near Damascus early Feb. 15. Syrian air defense has reportedly responded to the attack. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the incident; however, it regularly targets military sites belonging to Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed fighters throughout Syria. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages.

Military forces in northern Israel and Syria will almost certainly maintain a heightened readiness level in the coming days. Further air and retaliatory strikes and exchanges of cross-border fire are possible.

Context

Tensions between Syria and Israel remain extremely high. Israel has repeatedly expressed concerns over the presence of Iranian proxies in southwest Syria and aims to prevent a build-up of Iranian-backed forces in the region. Since 2017, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has launched hundreds of preemptive strikes in Syria, targeting suspected Hizballah and Iranian-led fighters, weapons caches, and supply convoys, primarily in the southwestern governorates.