On Tuesday, Israeli tanks moved about 24 kilometers away from Damascus, the capital of Syria. This action has caught everyone’s attention as Syria faces big changes. Israel launched airstrikes against Syrian army bases and took control of a buffer area in southern Syria. This happens after a group of rebel fighters quickly took down Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, shaking up politics in the region.
Israeli soldiers have reached a place called Qatana, which is six miles inside Syria from a no-fly zone near the Golan Heights. Israel claims it wants to stop terrorism and keep its country safe, but countries like Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are not happy with Israel’s actions. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel aims to create a safe zone in southern Syria without weapons and threats, which would help secure its borders without being there all the time.
Israeli airstrikes have destroyed much of Syria’s military equipment, including helicopters and jets. Over 200 air raids have left the Syrian military very weak, according to safety sources in the region.
With President Assad out of power, a group of rebels is now leading Syria. The new Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali and Vice President Faisal Mekdad are working on handing power to a new group called the Salvation Government, led by the rebel coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS, which used to be linked to al-Qaeda, is now trying to guide Syria through this confusing time since there are no clear plans for the country’s future.
This sudden change comes after a long civil war in Syria that caused many deaths and made millions leave their homes. Russia, which used to support Assad, hasn’t reacted to these new events yet.
The United States has said it will talk to the Syrian rebel groups and countries like Turkey to help with the transition. Robert Wood, the Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the UN, stressed the importance of creating a government in Syria that respects the rights of its people.
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