The Israeli military has intensified its campaign in Syria with a series of airstrikes targeting key sites near Damascus, while also expanding its territorial control over southern Syria’s vital water sources. On January 2, powerful explosions shook the western countryside of Damascus, as Israeli forces struck the Tal al-Shahem military site, a strategic Syrian army installation housing military communications, radar systems, and advanced weaponry, including anti-tank missiles.
According to Syrian media reports, the attack was part of a larger campaign by Israel, which has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Syrian Arab Army (SAA) infrastructure since December. The Israeli army also announced the destruction of an underground Iranian missile facility west of Hama, signaling an aggressive stance against Iranian influence in the region.
These developments coincide with Israel’s increasing control over Syria’s water resources. Israeli troops have reportedly seized the Al-Mantara Dam in the Quneitra countryside, the largest in southern Syria, marking the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions. According to Al Mayadeen, Israel now controls six key water sources in southern Syria, including the Al-Wahda Dam on the Yarmouk River Basin, a critical resource for both Syria and Jordan.
Israeli forces’ occupation of water infrastructure poses significant challenges to regional stability. Al Mayadeen reported that Israel’s control extends to 30 percent of Syria’s water supply and 40 percent of Jordan’s. The capture of the Al-Wahda Dam has particularly alarmed Jordan, which had been a primary beneficiary of its resources.
The ongoing Israeli airstrikes and territorial expansion come in the aftermath of the collapse of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government on December 8. The ensuing chaos has provided Israel an opportunity to intensify its military operations and secure control over critical assets, with billions of dollars in Syrian weaponry and infrastructure reportedly destroyed or appropriated in recent weeks.
