Mohammed al-Bashir has been sworn in as the interim prime minister of Syria, leading a so-called salvation government until March 1, 2025.
Israel has said it has destroyed the Syrian navy, and several missile stockpiles to “prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements.”
The Israeli Navy attacked the ports of Latakia and al-Bayda, where 15 Syrian vessels were docked.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF), writing on social media platform X, said, “In 48 hours, the IDF struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements.”
On Tuesday, Mohammed al-Bashir was sworn in as the interim prime minister of Syria, leading a so-called salvation government until March 1, 2025.
Al-Bashir, who is loyal to the main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), said on Tuesday, “Today we held a cabinet meeting that included a team from the salvation government that was working in Idlib and its vicinity, and the government of the ousted regime.”
HTS remains a designated terrorist organization in the United States.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged the new Syrian government to, “uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors.”
One of those neighbors is Israel, which has sought to prevent anyone in Syria from having the firepower to threaten it.
The IDF said each of the ships which were attacked was fitted with sea-to-sea missiles which posed, “threats to civilian and military maritime vessels in the area.”
The Israeli air force also bombed 350 targets, including anti-aircraft batteries, Syrian air force airfields, and “weapons production sites” in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra.
‘Neutralized’
The IDF claimed to have “neutralized” a number of Scud missiles, cruise missiles, fighter jets, drones and attack helicopters.
Israeli troops have also moved into a buffer zone, including the strategically important Mount Hermon, between the Golan Heights and Syria proper.
