Israel launches major airstrikes against targets in Syria, killing 57 people

 

Israeli troops on patrol in the Golan Heights. AFP/Getty.

Israel has launched major airstrikes against targets in Syria, killing 57 people. AFP. The strikes, which were the deadliest in recent history, killed members of the Syrian military, Iraqi militia members and Afghan members of an Iranian militia. The Iranian militia, the Fatimid Brigade, had smuggled Iranian weapons over the border of Iraq, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. The Israelis regularly target Iranian backed militias in an effort to defend their borders. The strikes occurred in Dier Ez Zor and the Albu Kamal region

My Comment:

This is a fairly huge news story that isn't really getting the coverage that it deserves. It is the biggest airstrike the Israelis have pulled off in a long time. They took out a large number of Syrian troops and militia members and likely destroyed several weapons caches. 

I think those militias and weapons are a pretty obvious threat to Israel. If the Iranian militias were to gain a big foothold in Syria and have the weapons they need they could launch cross border attacks into Israel. Israel, of course, has a major military to defend themselves and also the impressive Iron Dome system, but regardless they could face major casualties if they let the Iranians build up in Syria.

I don't expect any major action from the Syrian government, even though they have taken casualties. For one thing they haven't done anything before since Israel has been attacking Iranian militias since 2011. And they are in no position to risk a war with Israel. Though the Syrian Civil War has calmed down quite a bit the Syrian military has been bleed dry. They just don't have the military power to fight Israel. 

As for Iran this is another example of their aggressive foreign policy. They have been a proxy war with Israel for a long time now and they may try to do something given the wide perception of a weak foreign policy American President possibly taking the oath of office soon. I wouldn't be surprised if they actually attack Israel soon.

 But I don't think it will be an actual typical war. It will remain a proxy conflict. They will strike Israel with their proxy forces and rocket strikes. Israel will respond with their own strikes but I don't see them hitting Iran directly.

Keep in mind that Israel, with the help of President Trump, has been normalizing relations with its neighbors. Though a genuine peace movement it was also a new system of alliances between the Sunni Arab states and Israel against the Shiite Muslim Iranians. This means that if the Iranians start an actual war they have to worry about fighting the Gulf States as well as Israel. Hopefully this means that calmer heads will prevail.