According to Al Mayadeen, the Israeli attacks targeted positions of the former Syrian army near the port of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast. Earlier, on December 9, Reuters reported a strike on an air defense facility of the Syrian army near this port.

Latakia and Tartus are strategically important regions for Syria, as there are Russian military facilities in these provinces. In particular, the Russian Khmeimim airbase is located 25 km south of Latakia, and in Tartus there is a logistics center for the Russian Navy. Moscow and Damascus agreed in 2017 to station Russian forces at these bases for 49 years.

The Israeli military regularly strikes targets in Syria, arguing that it is necessary to prevent the transfer of weapons to Iranian forces and Hezbollah operating in the country. However, attacks near Russian bases have raised concerns about the potential for escalation in the region.

At the time of publication, Israeli authorities had not commented on the latest strikes on Syrian targets. New Syrian officials have also refrained from making statements on the matter.

In 2024, the Bashar al-Assad regime fell as a result of a rapid offensive by the Syrian opposition. In November, a large-scale operation began, during which opposition forces captured key cities such as Aleppo, Hama and Homs. On December 8, they entered Damascus, which marked the final collapse of the regime. Bashar al-Assad left the country and fled to Moscow. These events radically changed the political situation in Syria and the Middle East, opening a new stage in the struggle for power in the country.