Damascus (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Israeli army said that it had again struck two military bases in central Syria, “Tadmur and T4”, in the province of Homs, a day after the EU’s foreign policy chief warned strikes there and in Lebanon could lead to escalation.
Israel has increased its air strikes in Syria in recent months, hitting military locations it says are connected to Iranian forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, both partners of the former Syrian government. A number of airbases in Homs, including T4 and Tadmur, have been hit repeatedly because of their role in regional arms transfers.
How has Israel escalated its airstrikes in Syria recently?
The strikes were boosted after Islamist rebels expelled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, bringing an end to more than a decade of civil war.
The upheaval in Syria has filled Israel with both hope and concern as it weighs the implications of one of the most significant strategic shifts in the Middle East in years. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist faction associated with al Qaeda and involved in efforts to overthrow Assad, has drawn special scrutiny from Israelis. Israel has consistently stated it won’t accept the presence of HTS or related groups in southern Syria, urging for the region’s demilitarization.
Why is the EU warning about Israel’s actions in Syria?
A day earlier, on Monday, while visiting Jerusalem, Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, cautioned that Israeli airstrikes on Syria and Lebanon risk further escalating tensions in the region.
“Military actions must be proportionate, and Israeli strikes into Syria and Lebanon risk further escalation,”
Kallas said at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
“We feel that these things are unnecessary because Syria is right now not attacking Israel, and that feeds more radicalisation that is also against Israel,”
Kallas told reporters.
