1、2025/5/10 10:19Why is Israel Escalating its Strikes Against Syria?|Royal United Services Institutehttps:/www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/why-israel-escalating-its-strikes-against-syria1/9COMMENTARYGUEST COMMENTARYWhy is Israel Escalating its Strikes Against Syria?Rob Geist
2、Pinfold9 May 202511 Minute ReadWith the fall of the Assad regime,a change of Syrian leadershippresented an opportunity for Israel to soothe relations with itsneighbour and alleviate trouble at the border,but theNetanyahu governments choice,a course of military strikesand territorial advances into Sy
3、ria,shows a preference forcontinuity of relations.The fall of Bashar al-Assads regime in December 2024 was a once-in-a-generation chance for Israel to reset its troubled relationship with Syria.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently felt the same way:on11 December,he lauded the end of
4、the Assad regime and stated that Israelhas no interest in a con?ict with the new government in Damascus.Yet Israels actions did not match Netanyahus words.Israeli troops quicklyoccupied 460 square kilometres of Syrian territory.Syrias new president,Ahmed al-Sharaa,repeatedly clari?ed that his govern