Damascus signals restraint: "The goal is to avoid escalation to protect the regime"
A source close to the regime told N12 that, in Damascus' view, the solution is to reach security understandings with Israel. The Syrian Foreign Ministry denies the existence of a formal security agreement but emphasizes the desire for stability. Against the backdrop of tensions, the IDF Chief of Staff visited Syria.
Syria is signaling an intention to avoid an exchange of blows with Israel. A source close to the regime told N12 that, in the eyes of the Syrian government, the solution is restraint. The Syrian Foreign Ministry denied the existence of a security agreement that includes an arrangement with Israel.
Damascus is signaling this stance after Israel took official responsibility for the attack on the Abu al-Duhur military airport. According to the source, the government is focusing on avoiding any escalation to prevent any party from disrupting the path of the new regime. Meanwhile, the IDF Chief of Staff visited soldiers in Syria today against the backdrop of the tensions.
According to the source, the new government believes it is in its interest to settle problems with Israel and reach security understandings. Any military response would mean long-term escalation, the source added. Therefore, Damascus aims to keep the door for an arrangement open, while avoiding being perceived by the West or Israel as fully adopting the Turkish point of view.
Attack details and reactions
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, identified with Hezbollah, reported that eight strikes on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in the Idlib area were carried out by two Air Force planes entering from the direction of Lebanon. The attacks destroyed four runways and caused heavy damage to infrastructure.
Despite the desire for restraint, the Syrian Foreign Ministry sought to clarify that there are limits. A diplomatic source told Al-Jazeera: "We deny claims regarding an agreement between Syria and Israel. Israel attacked the airport despite receiving information that it is not occupied by foreign forces."
Rassan Ibrahim, a Syrian journalist and head of Syria Focus, told N12 that the Syrian government understands the Israeli attack was not intended as a full-scale military operation. "Its goal was dictated by internal political needs in Israel — the elections," Ibrahim alleged. "Benjamin Netanyahu's popularity is based on wars, so it is natural he would turn to this method. Inside Syria, this is viewed as a desperate attempt rather than a serious one, as the airport is old."
