Israel's Airstrikes on Syria Subside After Trump Meeting with Syrian Leader

In the aftermath of President Trump's meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, Israeli airstrikes on Syria have significantly decreased, with only a handful of strikes occurring since May 14. This change in Israeli military strategy is attributed to Trump's public endorsement of al-Shara, who has sought to establish a stable government in Syria and distance himself from his past connections to Al Qaeda. Israeli officials, however, remain skeptical of al-Shara's intentions, with some considering him a potential threat to Israel.

Key Takeaways:

• Since Trump's meeting with al-Shara on May 14, Israel has conducted only a handful of airstrikes on Syria, a significant decrease from the hundreds of strikes that occurred in the preceding months.
• The primary goals of Israel's airstrikes were to prevent hostile groups from obtaining strategic weapons and to prevent extremist groups from establishing a foothold in southwestern Syria near the Israeli border.
• Israel has launched over 700 airstrikes on Syria since Islamist rebels toppled the Assad regime, with the most significant attacks focused on strategic weapons under the possession of the former Syrian Army.
• The Israeli military's motivation for the airstrikes went beyond support for the Druse minority in Syria, with the attacks taking place immediately after Assad's fall and targeting a wide array of Syrian military assets.
• The new Syrian government has not attacked Israel since coming to power and has expressed a desire to live at peace with neighboring countries, sparking skepticism among Israeli officials about al-Shara's true intentions.
• Trump's olive branch to al-Shara has complicated Israeli strategy in Syria and has been seen as a reshaping of American foreign policy in the region.
• The sheer volume and scope of Israel's attacks on Syria have drawn criticism from around the world, including from French President Emmanuel Macron, who warned Israel against violating the territorial integrity of its neighbors.
• Even some within Israel express concerns about the effectiveness of the military campaign, with former Israeli national security adviser Yaakov Amidror stating that Israel is creating the very extremism it wants to deter.

Statistics:

• Over 700 airstrikes have been launched by Israel on Syria since Islamist rebels toppled the Assad regime.
• More than 450 strikes were conducted in the first week after Assad's fall, targeting the Syrian Navy, fighter jets, drones, tanks, air-defense systems, and a wide array of missiles and rockets.
• The Israeli military has eliminated entire Syrian military units, including the airforce, navy, and air-defense systems, with no attacks on Israel since the new government took power.
• The United States has already taken steps towards restoring normal relations with Syria, with President Trump stating that his administration hopes Syria's new government will succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace.
• The Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured by Israel in 1967, remains a key point of contention between Israel and Syria, with Israel seeking to secure the region and prevent extremist groups from establishing a foothold.
• Turkey has moved quickly to establish military and political influence in Syria, sparking concerns among Israeli officials about the potential for conflict between the two countries.

Sources:

• "Israel Launches Airstrikes on Syrian Presidential Palace" by The New York Times (undated)
• "Trump Offers Olive Branch to Syrian Leader" by The New York Times (May 14, 2023)
• "Israel's Airstrikes in Syria: A Lesson from Lebanon" by Uzi Arad, The New York Times (undated)
• "Israel's Strikes in Syria Draw Criticism" by The New York Times (March 2023)
• "Syria Conflict: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Holds Security Meeting" by BBC News (May 2023)
• "Israel's Military Campaign in Syria: A Conversation with Yaakov Amidror" by The New York Times (undated)