Introduction
Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip following Operation “Breaking Dawn” on October 7, 2023, Syria has become a direct target for Israeli attacks, which have escalated at varying rates and with rapid acceleration. These attacks were low-intensity and targeted the positions of Iranian militias and some Palestinian organizations operating in Syria and their leaders, in addition to positions and leaders of Hezbollah. As the momentum of Israeli operations in Gaza declined and spread to Lebanon, Israeli strikes on Syria escalated to an unprecedented extent, targeting leaders, militias, and strategic sites affiliated with Iran and Hezbollah, in addition to various Syrian regime sites.
From the beginning of 2024 until the end of October of the same year, according to human rights monitors, Israel carried out 178 attacks on Syrian territory, 152 of which were airstrikes and 26 ground attacks. These strikes resulted in the injury and destruction of approximately 332 targets, including weapons and ammunition depots, headquarters, command centers, and military vehicles ([1]), in addition to missile development centers in areas such as Damascus, Masyaf, and Homs. This escalation came as part of a broader Israeli strategy to undermine Iranian influence in the region and limit its regional threats.
During November 2024, the pace of Israeli raids on Syrian and Lebanese territory escalated. According to monitoring reports by the Omran Center for Studies, Syria recorded approximately 17 Israeli airstrikes during that month, targeting 38 sites with multiple raids, some of which were repeated, concentrated on border crossings and military points, and vital military sites in various parts of the country. These raids also targeted scattered military sites around the capital, Damascus, including the Mezzeh Airport and the Sayyida Zeinab area, not to mention the concentrated strikes on military sites in the Homs and Hama countrysides. The strikes specifically targeted strategic points used by Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian militias, resulting in significant damage to infrastructure, casualties, and the disruption of several strategic crossings linking the two countries.
The Israeli escalation against Syria in November 2024 coincided with several international, regional, and local political developments, most notably the US elections, which resulted in the victory of President Donald Trump. Regionally, the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect. Within hours of this fragile agreement, the Syrian front erupted on November 27, following the launch of Operation Deterrence of Aggression by armed opposition factions. The operation rapidly escalated, leading to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, and his flight abroad.
During this pivotal development in Syria and the Middle East, Israeli airstrikes escalated dramatically across Syria, targeting numerous sites within a short period of time, not to mention the ground incursion into some southern regions such as Quneitra and Mount Hermon. Accordingly, this report reviews the most prominent Israeli attacks on Syria during the period between November 27, 2024, and December 11, 2024. It should be noted that this report monitors the most prominent targets hit by Israeli attacks. It does not count the number of raids, but rather clarifies the nature of the target bank and the sites affected by Israeli attacks and assaults, some of which were repeated. This report also provides preliminary analyses of the targets and consequences of these attacks, while monitoring the most prominent local, regional, and international political reactions.
The Nature of the Israeli Aggression against Syria (Target Bank)
The first decade of December 2024 witnessed a clear escalation in the pace of Israeli strikes, coinciding with Operation Deterrence of Aggression and the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. The Israeli attacks included more than 53 sites, distributed across nine governorates, with repeated strikes on most sites. The attacks targeted approximately 13 sites in Damascus and its environs, approximately 13 in Homs and its countryside, 10 in Daraa, 5 in Latakia, 4 in Deir ez-Zor, 2 in Hasakah, 2 in Sweida, 1 in Tartus, 1 in Hama, and 1 in Quneitra. Most of the targeted sites were subjected to multiple raids. The Israeli Army Radio confirmed that the occupation army carried out more than 250 raids on Syria within 48 hours following the fall of Assad ([2]). In addition to a ground military operation through which Israel occupied Mount Hermon near the Golan Heights and several villages and towns in Quneitra Governorate, the Syrian sites targeted by the Israelis were divided into several categories, most notably:
Transportation lines and border crossings
Israeli raids, especially before the fall of the regime, focused on several border crossings between Lebanon and Syria, most notably those in the western Homs countryside, specifically those in the city of Qusayr. This city enjoys a major strategic location between Lebanon and Syria and was an important crossing point for Hezbollah. Until December 8, these sites were subjected to heavy bombardment by the Israeli Air Force. These raids targeted border crossings and infrastructure in the region, in addition to military points and weapons depots. Among the most important border crossings and areas targeted were the Al-Jubaniyeh, Al-Hawz, and Al-Asi bridges, and the Al-Jousiyeh, Al-Dabusiyeh, and Al-Jubaniyeh crossings in the Al-Qusayr countryside ([3]). In addition to the Arida crossing in Tartus, which was targeted for the first time, resulting in the complete closure of the crossing and its final closure ([4]).
Leaders and members of militias linked to Iran
On December 3, the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that Israel had carried out an attack targeting a car on the road to Damascus International Airport, causing it to explode. Citing a source in the Damascus Countryside Police, the agency explained that the attack directly targeted the car, without revealing further details about the casualties or damage. In a related context, Israeli Army Radio reported, citing a military source, that the operation targeted a prominent Hezbollah leader in Damascus ([5]). On the same day, the Israeli army announced the targeting and assassination of Hezbollah leader Salman Nimr Jumaa in an airstrike on Damascus, the first since the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. According to the Israeli military, Jumaa played a pivotal role as Hezbollah’s envoy to the Syrian regime forces, responsible for transporting weapons between Syria and Lebanon. He also served as a key link between the party and Syrian regime forces, holding prominent leadership positions, including operations officer in Damascus. The Israeli military indicated that targeting Jumaa represents a blow to Hezbollah’s strategy of strengthening its military presence inside Syria. [6]
Scientific Research Centers
Israeli aircraft have launched several raids on scientific research centers, where chemical weapons and ballistic missile programs are managed and developed. [7] On December 8, the raids targeted a scientific research center within the security square in Damascus, causing fires that broke out after several explosions. [8] On December 9, they targeted the scientific research center near the town of al-Zawi in the Masyaf countryside, Hama Governorate. On the same day, several raids were launched on the scientific research center in Barzeh, Damascus. There is no information on the extent of the damage at the time of writing this report. [9]
Infrastructure and Military Sites
The Israeli military announced on December 1 that its airstrikes targeted a military site in the countryside of the Qusayr area in Homs Governorate, near the border with Lebanon, on November 30. Army spokesman Avichay Adraee explained that the site was being used by Hezbollah to transport weapons, noting that the attack came after it was revealed that weapons transfers continued despite the ceasefire agreement, posing a threat to Israel and violating the terms of the agreement. [10] On December 6, the Israeli army launched several airstrikes on military sites in the western Homs countryside and in the Qusayr area, targeting infrastructure used by Hezbollah to transport weapons from Syria to Lebanon. The Israeli army stated that the operation came after it was revealed that weapons transfers continued despite the ceasefire agreement, considering it a threat to Israel and a violation of the terms of the agreement. It also indicated that Hezbollah/Radwan Forces, with the support of the Syrian regime, is exploiting civilian infrastructure to transport combat equipment for use against Israel. [11] As for Damascus and its environs, on December 8, Israeli aircraft launched airstrikes targeting a military barracks in the vicinity of the Mezzeh military airport in the Syrian capital, as well as military positions in the Mezzeh neighborhood, in addition to raids. Another targeted the security square in Damascus, causing several explosions followed by fires ([12]). On December 9, Israeli occupation aircraft targeted sites in the Mount Qasioun area in Damascus, in addition to the security square in the city center, as part of a second series of raids targeting the capital ([13]). On the same date, Israeli warplanes launched new airstrikes targeting weapons depots belonging to the Assad regime forces in the Qalamoun Mountains in the Damascus countryside. These included the Danha depots in Qalamoun, which contained anti-tank weapons, destroying them following violent explosions that rocked the area. [14] The same day (December 9) also witnessed raids on the headquarters of the Electronic Warfare Administration near Al-Bahdaliyah, adjacent to the Sayyida Zeinab area, and weapons depots in the village of Ain Mneen in the Al-Tall area. The occupation air force also launched airstrikes north of the city of Qara and warehouses in the Al-Sumaria area on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus. [15] During this month, southern Syria was also under Israeli target bank. On December 8, Israeli warplanes carried out 10 airstrikes, some of which targeted military sites in the Quneitra countryside, in addition to the Tal Al-Hara area in the Daraa countryside. Weapons depots and strategic sites were also targeted. Other raids around the city of Izra in the Daraa countryside targeted other military sites. It includes the 175th Regiment, the 12th Brigade, and the Fifth Division Command ([16]). The attacks continued throughout December 9, targeting the village of Al-Ghariyah Al-Sharqiyah in Daraa, the 15th Brigade east of the city of Inkhil, the Ninth Division in the city of Al-Sanamayn, and the Al-Kam warehouses east of Daraa ([17]). On the same day, Israeli aircraft also launched raids on positions of the 112th Brigade between the cities of Sheikh Maskin and Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa. [18]
On the other hand, the northeast of the country was not spared from Israeli attacks during this month. On December 9, aircraft launched raids on Hasakah Governorate – the area of Qamishli Airport and the 54th Regiment, known as the Tartab Regiment. [19] On December 9, Israeli aircraft launched raids targeting weapons depots at a former military site near the city of Deir ez-Zor, warehouses belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the desert south of Albukamal, weapons stores and depots in the salt mine, and former centers for regime forces and Iranians in the Deir ez-Zor desert. [20]
Airports and Air Defense Systems
On December 8, the Sweida Governorate was subjected to several raids, some of which targeted the Khalkhala Air Base. Six strikes also targeted the main air base located north of the city of Sweida, which contains a large stockpile of missiles and shells abandoned by the regime. The Syrian forces were behind it. [21] On December 9, Israeli raids also targeted the Shayrat airbase in Homs, without any information about the extent of the damage. [22] On the same day, Israeli occupation aircraft targeted sites in the Mezzeh military airport and the Mount Qasioun area in Damascus, as part of a second series of raids targeting the capital. [23] Other Israeli raids targeted the Aqraba military airport in the Damascus countryside, and there were reports of the destruction of helicopters and stationed warplanes. [24] This day also witnessed Israeli warplanes targeting several military sites in the west of the country, including an air defense facility near the port of Latakia on the Syrian coast. [25] In contrast, on December 10, Israeli warplanes launched air raids targeting the Deir ez-Zor military airport in eastern Deir ez-Zor, resulting in the destruction of aircraft and radar equipment. [26]
