By TARYN PEDLER

Published: 17:07 GMT, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 17:08 GMT, 10 December 2024

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The Israeli Defense Forces have obliterated six Syrian navy vessels in the country's south as part of a so-called 'defense zone'. The IDF targeted the ships which were docked on the Syrian port of Latakia on Monday, British security firm Ambrey confirmed today. Ambrey said video footage showed one naval vessel listing and that five others had been sunk, without any visible damage being done to the port's infrastructure.

The Israeli Defense Forces have obliterated six Syrian navy vessels in the country’s south as part of a so-called ‘defense zone’. The IDF targeted the ships which were docked on the Syrian port of Latakia on Monday, British security firm Ambrey confirmed today. Ambrey said video footage showed one naval vessel listing and that five others had been sunk, without any visible damage being done to the port’s infrastructure.

A Syrian security source revealed on Monday that Israel 's military had targeted an air defense installation near Latakia before the United Nations special envoy for Syria today called on Israel to halt its military movements and bombardments inside the Middle Eastern nation. The attack followed the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after rebel forces stormed and took control of Damascus on Sunday. Assad has now reportedly fled with some members of his family to Moscow, where he has allegedly been granted asylum by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Syrian security source revealed on Monday that Israel 's military had targeted an air defense installation near Latakia before the United Nations special envoy for Syria today called on Israel to halt its military movements and bombardments inside the Middle Eastern nation. The attack followed the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after rebel forces stormed and took control of Damascus on Sunday. Assad has now reportedly fled with some members of his family to Moscow, where he has allegedly been granted asylum by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Syrian security source revealed on Monday that Israel ‘s military had targeted an air defense installation near Latakia before the United Nations special envoy for Syria today called on Israel to halt its military movements and bombardments inside the Middle Eastern nation. The attack followed the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after rebel forces stormed and took control of Damascus on Sunday. Assad has now reportedly fled with some members of his family to Moscow, where he has allegedly been granted asylum by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

That strikes come as Israel ordered its forces to create a 'sterile defense zone' in southern Syria that would be enforced without a permanent Israeli presence as it tightens its hold along the line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday. He gave no details but said the zone, would 'prevent the establishment and organization of terror in Syria'. 'We will not allow this, we will not allow threats to the state of Israel,' he said in a statement following a visit to a naval base in the northern Israeli port of Haifa.

That strikes come as Israel ordered its forces to create a 'sterile defense zone' in southern Syria that would be enforced without a permanent Israeli presence as it tightens its hold along the line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday. He gave no details but said the zone, would 'prevent the establishment and organization of terror in Syria'. 'We will not allow this, we will not allow threats to the state of Israel,' he said in a statement following a visit to a naval base in the northern Israeli port of Haifa.

That strikes come as Israel ordered its forces to create a ‘sterile defense zone’ in southern Syria that would be enforced without a permanent Israeli presence as it tightens its hold along the line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday. He gave no details but said the zone, would ‘prevent the establishment and organization of terror in Syria’. ‘We will not allow this, we will not allow threats to the state of Israel,’ he said in a statement following a visit to a naval base in the northern Israeli port of Haifa.

Earlier, a military spokesperson said Israeli troops remained in the demilitarized buffer zone in Syrian territory created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war as well as 'a few additional points' outside the separation area. But he denied that forces had penetrated Syrian territory significantly beyond the zone, after Syrian sources said the incursion had extended to within 15 miles of the capital Damascus. 'IDF forces are not advancing towards Damascus. This is not something we are doing or pursuing in any way,' Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the military spokesperson, told a briefing with reporters.

Earlier, a military spokesperson said Israeli troops remained in the demilitarized buffer zone in Syrian territory created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war as well as 'a few additional points' outside the separation area. But he denied that forces had penetrated Syrian territory significantly beyond the zone, after Syrian sources said the incursion had extended to within 15 miles of the capital Damascus. 'IDF forces are not advancing towards Damascus. This is not something we are doing or pursuing in any way,' Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the military spokesperson, told a briefing with reporters.

Earlier, a military spokesperson said Israeli troops remained in the demilitarized buffer zone in Syrian territory created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war as well as ‘a few additional points’ outside the separation area. But he denied that forces had penetrated Syrian territory significantly beyond the zone, after Syrian sources said the incursion had extended to within 15 miles of the capital Damascus. ‘IDF forces are not advancing towards Damascus. This is not something we are doing or pursuing in any way,’ Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the military spokesperson, told a briefing with reporters.

'We are not involved in what's happening in Syria internally, we are not a side in this conflict and we do not have any interest other than protecting our borders and the security of our citizens,' Shoshani said. Israeli jets have struck a string of targets across Syria since the weekend, aiming to ensure Syrian military equipment, including combat aircraft, missiles and chemical weapons, does not fall into rebel hands. As part of the wave of strikes, Katz said Israeli missile ships had destroyed the Syrian military fleet in an operation on Monday night.

'We are not involved in what's happening in Syria internally, we are not a side in this conflict and we do not have any interest other than protecting our borders and the security of our citizens,' Shoshani said. Israeli jets have struck a string of targets across Syria since the weekend, aiming to ensure Syrian military equipment, including combat aircraft, missiles and chemical weapons, does not fall into rebel hands. As part of the wave of strikes, Katz said Israeli missile ships had destroyed the Syrian military fleet in an operation on Monday night.

‘We are not involved in what’s happening in Syria internally, we are not a side in this conflict and we do not have any interest other than protecting our borders and the security of our citizens,’ Shoshani said. Israeli jets have struck a string of targets across Syria since the weekend, aiming to ensure Syrian military equipment, including combat aircraft, missiles and chemical weapons, does not fall into rebel hands. As part of the wave of strikes, Katz said Israeli missile ships had destroyed the Syrian military fleet in an operation on Monday night.

Israeli media reported that the air force had carried out as many as 300 strikes. The military declined to confirm the number but did confirm it was seeking to stop Syrian military weapons from being seized and used by potential enemies. 'We're acting to prevent lethal strategic weapons from falling into hostile hands. We've been doing this for years now in different ways and in different situations, and we're doing it now,' Shoshani said.

Israeli media reported that the air force had carried out as many as 300 strikes. The military declined to confirm the number but did confirm it was seeking to stop Syrian military weapons from being seized and used by potential enemies. 'We're acting to prevent lethal strategic weapons from falling into hostile hands. We've been doing this for years now in different ways and in different situations, and we're doing it now,' Shoshani said.

Israeli media reported that the air force had carried out as many as 300 strikes. The military declined to confirm the number but did confirm it was seeking to stop Syrian military weapons from being seized and used by potential enemies. ‘We’re acting to prevent lethal strategic weapons from falling into hostile hands. We’ve been doing this for years now in different ways and in different situations, and we’re doing it now,’ Shoshani said.

Israel has also been working to destroy Assad's stockpile of chemical weapons in a desperate bid to stop them from 'falling into the hands of extremists'. On Monday, Israeli warplanes struck suspected chemical weapons storage facilities in the Middle Eastern nation, the country's foreign minister confirmed. Gideon Sa'ar said they attacked 'in order that they (the weapons) will not fall in the hands of extremists' following the collapse of Assad's regime.

Israel has also been working to destroy Assad's stockpile of chemical weapons in a desperate bid to stop them from 'falling into the hands of extremists'. On Monday, Israeli warplanes struck suspected chemical weapons storage facilities in the Middle Eastern nation, the country's foreign minister confirmed. Gideon Sa'ar said they attacked 'in order that they (the weapons) will not fall in the hands of extremists' following the collapse of Assad's regime.

Israel has also been working to destroy Assad’s stockpile of chemical weapons in a desperate bid to stop them from ‘falling into the hands of extremists’. On Monday, Israeli warplanes struck suspected chemical weapons storage facilities in the Middle Eastern nation, the country’s foreign minister confirmed. Gideon Sa’ar said they attacked ‘in order that they (the weapons) will not fall in the hands of extremists’ following the collapse of Assad’s regime.

Footage released on Monday showed severe damage at Mazzeh military airport on the outskirts of Damascus, including destroyed aircraft, where the Israeli military struck nearby weapons depots. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was using 'all the tools it has' to ensure its security after the 'change in the Syrian leadership' has left the country with a power vacuum.

Footage released on Monday showed severe damage at Mazzeh military airport on the outskirts of Damascus, including destroyed aircraft, where the Israeli military struck nearby weapons depots. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was using 'all the tools it has' to ensure its security after the 'change in the Syrian leadership' has left the country with a power vacuum.

Footage released on Monday showed severe damage at Mazzeh military airport on the outskirts of Damascus, including destroyed aircraft, where the Israeli military struck nearby weapons depots. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was using ‘all the tools it has’ to ensure its security after the ‘change in the Syrian leadership’ has left the country with a power vacuum.

Israeli foreign minister Sa'ar also confirmed that Israel was attacking the Syrian Army's 'advanced weaponry', including chemical weapons, long-range missiles and rockets, to prevent them from falling into the hands of 'extremists'. A senior Israeli official told Reuters that the air strikes would continue over the coming days. Sa'ar stressed that Israel had no interest in interfering in internal Syrian affairs and was concerned only with defending its citizens.

Israeli foreign minister Sa'ar also confirmed that Israel was attacking the Syrian Army's 'advanced weaponry', including chemical weapons, long-range missiles and rockets, to prevent them from falling into the hands of 'extremists'. A senior Israeli official told Reuters that the air strikes would continue over the coming days. Sa'ar stressed that Israel had no interest in interfering in internal Syrian affairs and was concerned only with defending its citizens.

Israeli foreign minister Sa’ar also confirmed that Israel was attacking the Syrian Army’s ‘advanced weaponry’, including chemical weapons, long-range missiles and rockets, to prevent them from falling into the hands of ‘extremists’. A senior Israeli official told Reuters that the air strikes would continue over the coming days. Sa’ar stressed that Israel had no interest in interfering in internal Syrian affairs and was concerned only with defending its citizens.

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IDF destroys six Syrian navy vessels as part of ‘defense zone’

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