Syria: Airstrikes target sites near Al-Bukamal Sept. 14

Event

Airstrikes have been reported near the town of Al-Bukamal in Deir Ez-Zur Governorate late Sept. 14. The Syrian government has yet to comment on the incident. It is likely that the US military or Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out the airstrikes given that both have targeted military sites belonging to Syrian government forces and Iran-backed fighters throughout Syria. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

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

Al-Bukamal is around 240 km (149 miles) southeast of Ar-Raqqah.

Context

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