By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime after 13 years of civil war has sent shockwaves through the region. Rebel forces captured Damascus in a stunning offensive last week, prompting President Assad to flee Syria. As the dust settles on this dramatic chapter of the Syrian conflict, a new challenge has emerged: preventing powerful weapons left behind by the Assad regime from falling into the wrong hands.

Strikes Target Key Syrian Sites

Reports indicate that airstrikes by Israel, the United States, and Turkey have targeted key military and chemical weapons sites across Syria. According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), over 75 strikes were conducted to eliminate ISIS leaders, operatives, and camps that could exploit the power vacuum left in Assad’s wake. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed that Israel’s strikes aimed to neutralize suspected chemical weapons facilities, emphasizing the risk of these weapons being used by hostile groups.

Turkey has also launched operations, targeting airbases and depots near its border. These strikes come amid Ankara’s long-standing concerns about the resurgence of extremist factions in northern Syria, as well as the activities of Kurdish groups it views as security threats.

Rebel Gains and International Concern

The rebel coalition that toppled Assad’s government includes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other Western countries. While the rebels’ victory signals the end of Assad’s authoritarian rule, their links to extremist factions have alarmed international observers.

Western nations fear that the vast stockpiles of weapons—ranging from advanced missile systems to chemical agents—could fall into the hands of these groups or remnants of the Islamic State. The rapid capture of key cities such as Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and finally Damascus has left little time to secure these assets, heightening the urgency of international airstrikes.

The Changing Map of Syria

For more than a decade, Syria’s civil war reshaped the nation’s political and geographic landscape. Initially sparked by peaceful protests in 2011, the conflict quickly escalated as Assad’s government violently cracked down on dissent. Rebel forces, comprising both moderate factions and Islamist extremists, gained control of significant territories in the early years of the war.

However, the rise of the Islamic State in 2014 and Russian military intervention dramatically shifted the dynamics. Russian airstrikes, combined with Iranian and Hezbollah support, allowed Assad’s forces to reclaim key areas such as Aleppo and parts of the Euphrates River Valley by 2020. A stalemate persisted until late November 2024, when opposition forces launched a renewed offensive, culminating in Assad’s ouster.

A Regional and Global Repercussion

The current strikes underscore the complexity of the post-Assad era. While the Assad regime’s collapse is seen as a victory for Syrian opposition groups, it also raises critical questions about regional stability. The presence of chemical and advanced conventional weapons in unsecured sites poses a dire threat not only to Syria but also to neighboring nations and global security.

Israel, in particular, has expressed concerns about Iranian-backed militias capitalizing on the chaos to establish stronger footholds in Syria. Similarly, Turkey aims to prevent a resurgence of ISIS and limit the influence of Kurdish groups near its borders.

What Comes Next?

As international forces target key sites in Syria, the world watches to see how the new power dynamics will unfold. The Syrian opposition’s ability to govern and stabilize the country will be tested, especially with the shadow of extremist factions looming over their victory.

The strikes by Israel, the U.S., and Turkey highlight the high stakes of this transitional period. The question remains: can Syria’s new rulers prevent further fragmentation and foster a future free from both authoritarianism and extremism?