Aftermath of Israel's Airstrikes on Syrian Military Facilities Amid Political Instability

Tel Aviv justifies these actions as necessary to prevent the Syrian opposition, particularly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), from gaining access to weapons and military capabilities that could pose a threat to Israel. However, this justification has been met with warnings from the HTS leadership to stop the attacks.

The recent upheaval in Syria, marked by the departure of President Bashar al-Assad following the armed opposition's takeover of the capital, Damascus, and other major cities, has created a power vacuum and increased instability, which the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly exploited to enter Syrian territory outside the Golan Heights for the first time since 1973.

The effects of these airstrikes are clearly visible, especially at the Mezzeh military airport and the port of Latakia, where Israel has destroyed the Syrian naval fleet.

Take a look at Sputnik Africa's photo gallery to see the damage caused by the Israeli attacks!

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Syrian naval vessels are seen destroyed by an Israeli airstrike last week in the port of Latakia, Syria, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024.

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DAMASCUS, SYRIA - DECEMBER 15: After an Israeli strike on Syria , the tail of a Russian-made rocket lies on the ground as smoke rises from shipping casings for rockets, near the tarmac at the Mezzeh Military Airport, after more than 500 Israeli strikes against military targets across Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, on December 15, 2024, in Damascus, Syria. Israel says it is destroying Syria's military capabilities to prevent any threat from the Islamist forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), though the HTS leader over the weekend warned Israel to stop such attacks. The fall of the Assad regime marks a new chapter for Syria, which has been mired in a multi-party civil war since 2011, sparked by the Arab Spring uprisings. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)

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LATAKIA, SYRIA - DECEMBER 15: A view of Port of Latakia as removal of wreckage of Syrian navy vessels destroyed by Israeli airstrikes completed and port is set to reopened to operate in Latakia, Syria on December 15, 2024. The Syrian interim government has completed the cleanup of Latakia Port, which was severely damaged by an Israeli airstrike on Syria's naval fleet on December 9. The port is expected to reopen next week after the removal of debris from the destroyed ships and boats. (Photo by Kinane Hendavi/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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DAMASCUS, SYRIA - DECEMBER 15: Discarded Soviet-era Syrian Air Force planes are left beside the tarmac at the Mezzeh Military Airport, as Israel mounts more than 500 Israeli strikes against military targets across Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, on December 15, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. Israel says it is destroying Syria's military capabilities to prevent any threat from the Islamist forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), though the HTS leader over the weekend warned Israel to stop such attacks. The fall of the Assad regime marks a new chapter for Syria, which has been mired in a multi-party civil war since 2011, sparked by the Arab Spring uprisings. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)

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LATAKIA, SYRIA - DECEMBER 15: A view of Port of Latakia as removal of wreckage of Syrian navy vessels destroyed by Israeli airstrikes completed and port is set to reopened to operate in Latakia, Syria on December 15, 2024. The Syrian interim government has completed the cleanup of Latakia Port, which was severely damaged by an Israeli airstrike on Syria's naval fleet on December 9. The port is expected to reopen next week after the removal of debris from the destroyed ships and boats. (Photo by Kinane Hendavi/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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DAMASCUS, SYRIA - DECEMBER 15: Discarded Soviet-era Syrian Air Force planes are left beside the tarmac at the Mezzeh Military Airport, as Israel mounts more than 500 Israeli strikes against military targets across Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, on December 15, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. Israel says it is destroying Syria's military capabilities to prevent any threat from the Islamist forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), though the HTS leader over the weekend warned Israel to stop such attacks. The fall of the Assad regime marks a new chapter for Syria, which has been mired in a multi-party civil war since 2011, sparked by the Arab Spring uprisings. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)