Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian visited Syria and met with senior officials including President Bashar al-Assad. According to a Syrian readout, the two conferred on, inter alia, “steps… to enhance bilateral cooperation with the aim of reaching a higher level of partnerships at various levels, particularly in the economic and trade fields, in a way that enables the two peoples to continue facing the repercussions of the blockade and sanctions imposed on the two countries”.

Syria state media reported “an Israeli missile aggression on the surroundings of Damascus and Homs cities”.

Syria state media reported what it claimed were Israeli missile strikes around Quneitra.

The Israeli military reported that one of its drones suffered a “technical malfunction” and crashed while undertaking “routine activities” in Syrian territory.

The U.S. announced that it had “applied the measures authorised in Section 3 of the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act” against, inter alia, Kataeb Hizbollah, Asaeb Ahl al-Haq and Lebanese Hizbollah.

The Israeli military reported that “three rockets were… fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel. Two rockets landed in Israel”. In response, the IDF conducted artillery strikes against “targets along the Lebanese border”, and underscored that “the Lebanese government is responsible for all attacks from Lebanon”. Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently maintained that “our actions overnight were meant to send a clear message that we will not accept such attacks. I hope we are not forced into further action”. “Lebanon is in a state of chaos caused in a large extend by the Hizbollah terror group”, he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted: “regarding the ship and the Iranian issue in general: We are working on enlisting the world but at the same time, we also know how to act alone. Iran already knows the price that we exact when someone threatens our security. The Iranians need to understand that it is impossible to sit peacefully in Tehran and from there ignite the entire Middle East”. “Against Iran, speeches are not enough”, Bennett added.

The U.S. designated “eight Syrian prisons run by the Assad regime’s intelligence apparatus… and five senior security officials of regime entities that control these detention facilities”. It also blacklisted “Syrian armed group Ahrar al-Sharqiya… [and] two of the group’s leaders”.

A Russian military official reported that Syrian air defences had intercepted two Israeli strikes against targets in Damascus governate.

Syrian state media reported Israeli missile strikes near Homs.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes near Aleppo. The Israeli army subsequently confirmed that “two rockets were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel”, which was followed by Israeli artillery fire into Lebanon. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that “we will not allow harm to Israel’s sovereignty and security. Whoever tries to harm us will pay a painful price”. He further contended that “Lebanon is on the verge of collapse, like any country in which Iran bases itself… Its citizens were taken hostage by Khamenei and Nasrallah for the sake of Iranian interests”. “This is unfortunate, but we will not accept a spillover of the situation in Lebanon into Israel”, he added.

The U.S. along with eighteen countries, the League of Arab States and the European Union jointly reiterated “strong support for UN-led efforts to implement all aspects of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, including continued support for an immediate nation-wide ceasefire, the unimpeded and safe delivery of aid, and the Constitutional Committee, as well as fighting against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. Emphasising “the unity and territorial integrity of Syria”, they expressed commitments “to continue working actively to reach a credible, sustainable and inclusive political solution based on Resolution 2254”.

The foreign ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS issued a joint statement expressing their commitment “to strengthening cooperation across all Coalition lines of effort in order to ensure that Daesh/ISIS Core in Iraq and Syria”. On Iraq, they deplored “the continuing attacks against Coalition personnel and convoys, and diplomatic facilities, emphasising the importance of the Government of Iraq protecting Coalition assets”, while hailing “the incremental expansion of NATO’s non-combat advisory, training and capacity building mission”. Regarding Syria, the ministers backed “a lasting political settlement in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254”, while noting that “the Coalition continues to support inclusive local recovery and stabilisation in areas liberated from Daesh/ISIS and reconciliation and reintegration efforts to foster conditions conducive to a Syria-wide political resolution to the conflict under the parameters of UN Security Council Resolution 2254”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “we wish for peace and calm, but we are willing to use our full capabilities should we be required on any front, including the Lebanese front. Attempts to sabotage the quiet on our borders have not gone unnoticed, and we are opening our eyes and acting routinely, and we are prepared for extensive activities even in an emergency”. President Rivlin, too, indicated that “we know the threat is still grave... We are aware of Hizbollah’s attempts to continue to grow stronger with Iranian support and arm itself with weapons whose only purpose is to harm the State of Israel’s Homefront”. He further reiterated that “Israel will not allow Iran to establish itself in Lebanon. The State of Israel will not allow Iran to send its satellite states here, to the Middle East”.

Media reports indicated that the Israeli military had “struck a Syrian outpost near the city of Quneitra” with tank fire.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “launched an aerial aggression from the Lebanese airspace against some targets in the central and southern regions”.

An Israeli military spokesperson reported that the IDF had “destroyed a forward observation post of the Syrian army that was set up in an Israeli area west of the Alfa line in the Golan Heights”, asserting that Israel would not “tolerate any attempt to violate [its] sovereignty”.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Iran’s envoy called for preserving “the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria through ending the occupation of its territory including the occupied Syrian Golan, withdrawing of all uninvited foreign forces from that country, ceasing to support any separatist tendencies or illegitimate self-rule initiatives and preventing the violation of Syrian sovereignty particularly by acts of aggression of the Israeli regime”.

A Pentagon spokesperson underscored that “nothing’s changed about the [U.S.’s] mission in Syria, which is about counter-ISIS operations, in keeping with the work that the coalition has been doing since 2014. It is certainly a small presence, less than 1,000”. He also indicated that “we as a government would simply urge all actors act in such a way inside Syria so as to not contribute more to the instability, the insecurity and rather in fact contribute to a peaceful political outcome”.

The Israeli military indicated that “six rockets were… fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel, all of which fell inside Lebanon. In response, our artillery forces fired toward the sources of the launches”. An Israeli military spokesperson was cited as saying that “a small Palestinian faction… was responsible”. The following day, the IDF reported intercepting “a UAV [which had] approached the Israeli border near the Jordan Valley”.

The Israeli military reported that “IDF tanks fired warning shots toward a number of rioters who crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory. The suspects sabotaged the fence and set a fire in the area before returning to Lebanese territory”. Media reports noted one Lebanese fatality who was identified as a Hizbollah member, and President Aoun “strongly condemned the crime committed by Israeli forces”. Later in the day, the IDF indicated that “three rockets were... fired from Syria toward Israel, one of which fell in Syria”. 

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with his Syrian counterpart and discussed, inter alia, “Tehran’s support for the Syrian nation and government against the inauspicious phenomena of extremism and terrorism”; Zarif also posited that U.S. sanctions were “depriving the Iranian and Syrian people of [the] COVID-19 vaccine”. According to an Iranian readout, the Syrian official “appreciated Iran’s support for the people and government of Syria, and underlined the necessity of the two countries’ cooperation”. Zarif also met President Bashar al-Assad and noted the “role that can be played… by pioneering countries behind the Axis of Resistance” in supporting the Palestinian cause, and updated Assad regarding “the latest developments in the Vienna nuclear talks… as well as the regional movements of the Islamic Republic of Iran in relations with other countries in the region”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had conducted an air strike near Quneitra, injuring one person.

Syrian state media reported that a “technical fault” resulted in a fire aboard an oil tanker off the Syrian coast.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had conducted air strikes near Quneitra.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “launched an aerial aggression… targeting some positions in the coastal region”, killing one person and injuring six.  

Discussing Iran-Israel tensions, CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie stressed that “it is not our desire to have a war with Iran. And we would hope it is not their desire to have a war with us… There is a low-level conflict that’s being fought out across the theater. But we do not intend to enter that conflict”.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen maintained that “a bad deal [with Iran] will send the region spiraling into war… Anyone seeking short-term benefits should be mindful of the longer-term”. He further asserted that “Israel will not allow Iran to attain nuclear arms. Iran has no immunity anywhere. Our planes can reach everywhere in the Middle East - and certainly Iran”. Relatedly, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. underlined that “the freedom of action of Israel to prevent Iran from becoming an existential threat is a freedom of action that will be preserved… [and] the current [U.S.] government respects”. He also indicated that in bilateral discussions, Israel and the U.S. “agreed on the principle of transparency and not to surprise each other [regarding the Vienna talks] and I think we are both keeping to it”.

U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley reported a “good discussion… with our GCC partners regarding the status of JCPOA talks and regional security” as nuclear negotiations resumed in Vienna. The same day, senior Israeli and U.S. national security officials convened for discussions in Washington, and per a White House readout “discussed their serious concerns about advancements in Iran’s nuclear program in recent years”; the two sides also “agreed on the significant threat posed by Iran’s aggressive behavior in the region”, with the U.S. side expressing “President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself”. They also formed “an inter-agency working group to focus particular attention on the growing threat of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Precision Guided Missiles produced by Iran and provided to its proxies”.

Syria’s oil ministry reported a fire aboard a tanker off its coast and said the cause was “believed to be an attack by a drone coming from the direction of Lebanese territorial waters”. However, Iranian media subsequently cited a Syrian military official indicating that the “accident occurred due to carelessness and lack of safety measures”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes against sites near Damascus, injuring four, and added: “The army air defences intercepted the hostile missiles and downed most of them”. The Israel Defense Forces subsequently confirmed that “a surface-to-air missile was fired from Syria to Israel’s southern Negev. In response we struck the battery from which the missile was launched and additional surface-to-air batteries in Syria”. U.S. Central Command Commander Frank McKenzie assessed that the Syrians “were responding to Israeli strikes on targets in Syria… I do not believe it was an intentional attack, but just rather a lack of capability on the part of the Syrian air defenders”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz affirmed that the IDF “is ideally prepared along the northern border and definitely on the Lebanese front”, adding: “We are aware of Hizbollah’s attempts to challenge us in new ways… We will deal with any threat. If Hizbollah challenges the IDF and the State of Israel, it will suffer very, very heavy consequences and I hope they don’t do that”.

The U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2021 Annual Threat Assessment indicated that “Iran is determined to maintain influence in Syria… [It] is pursuing a permanent military presence and economic deals in Syria as the conflict winds down there. Tehran almost certainly wants these things to build its regional influence, support Hizbollah and threaten Israel”. The report further assessed that “U.S. forces in eastern Syria will face threats from Iranian and Syrian-regime-aligned groups, mostly through deniable attacks”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu maintained that “the fight against Iran and its metastases and against Iranian armament is a huge task. The situation as it exists today is not necessarily how it will exist tomorrow”. In related comments, Israel’s military chief of staff remarked that “the Israel Defense Forces’ actions throughout the Middle East are not hidden from our enemies’ eyes. They are watching us, seeing our capabilities and carefully considering their next steps”.

The Syrian defence ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the vicinity of Damascus, injuring four and causing material damage.

The U.S. unveiled “more than $596 million in new humanitarian assistance to respond to the Syrian crisis”, with the U.S. UN ambassador underscoring the importance of “unhindered humanitarian access and aid to all Syrians in need through all avenues available, including through cross-border assistance”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli missile strikes on “some targets in the surroundings of Damascus”, which unconfirmed reports identified as “two ammunition depots belonging to Iranian militias”.

Marking the tenth anniversary of the Syrian war, the U.S., jointly with the E3 and Italy, issued a statement urging “the regime and its supporters [to] engage seriously in the political process” and reaffirming “the pursuit of a peaceful solution which protects the rights and future of all Syrians, based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254”. Relatedly, Iran UN envoy urged “the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces present in Syria without the permission of its Government, particularly U.S. forces”, adding: “We condemn the continued Israeli military attacks in Syria. They are unlawful, provocative, and destabilising. That regime must be compelled to put an end to such military adventurism”.

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson reiterated that “we’ll use a variety of tools at our disposal to push for a sustainable end to the Syrian people’s suffering. We’ll continue to support the UN’s role in negotiating a political settlement in line with the relevant UN resolutions, including UNSCR 2254”. “If there is to be a sustainable end to this conflict, we recognise that the Syrian Government must change its behaviour”, the spokesperson asserted, adding: “Bashar al-Assad has not done anything that would restore his legitimacy… There is no question of the U.S. normalising relations with his government anytime soon. There is no question that we will stand, that we will seek to support the humanitarian plight of the Syrian people as we seek a political settlement”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes targeting “the vicinity of Damascus”.

Foreign minister Javad Zarif conferred with his Syrian counterpart on bilateral relations and the Syrian peace process.

The Pentagon confirmed that “at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces… conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilised by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria. These strikes were authorised in response to recent attacks against American and Coalition personnel in Iraq, and to ongoing threats to those personnel”. “This proportionate military response”, the statement added, “was conducted together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with Coalition partners”, while noting: “We have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq”. The Syrian government denounced the action as “a coward[ly] aggression”, while Iran’s foreign ministry referred to it as “illegal aggression” by the U.S.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz maintained that “we all need to make sure that if an agreement is signed with Iran, it will be one that ends its nuclear project, enables long-term effective oversight and inspection and puts a stop to Iranian entrenchment in Syria, Yemen and Iraq”. “In parallel”, Gantz added, “the IDF is currently working to build up our forces and is preparing itself for any scenario, including one in which we would need to take operative action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned that “if Israel attacks Iran, this will amount to committing suicide”, while maintaining that “our goal in Syria is to combat terrorism, and Israel must realise that the policies of supporting terrorist groups will not go unanswered”. He further remarked that “the mistake of our neighbours is that they have allowed Israel to transfer the conflict to their lands, and it will rob them of security and will not defend them”.

Iran, Russia and Turkey convened a meeting of the “Astana Process” talks over Syria, jointly reaffirming “determination to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations and stand against separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria as well as threatening the national security of neighbouring countries”. The three countries also “condemned continuing Israeli military attacks in Syria” and “reaffirmed their commitment to advance viable and lasting Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254”. Relatedly, a senior Iranian diplomat met with the UN special envoy for Syria.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel that “if you attack our towns and civilians, we’ll attack yours. You are an army state, so there’s no distinction whatsoever between Israeli soldiers and civilians”. “We are not seeking a confrontation or war”, he added. “But should a confrontation take place, we will engage in it... even the game of ‘a few days of fighting’ will be a dangerous game for the Israelis and would lead them to undesirable consequences”. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently remarked: “If we have to go to battle, Lebanon will tremble and Hizbollah will be fatally wounded”. “If there are days of fighting… they will be difficult for the Israeli home front, but it will be difficult and terrible first and foremost for our enemies”, he added. “This is especially true for Hizbollah and Hamas, which are building offensive capabilities from within civilian areas and committing war crimes”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had launched “waves of missiles… on a number of targets in the surroundings of Damascus”.

A senior Iranian diplomat asserted that Iran’s “presence in Syria is aimed at combating Daesh [ie, ISIS] and other terrorist groups, but if Israel wants to cross the ‘red lines’, it will face the toughest response, which will make it regret its actions”. “Iran’s presence in Syria will continue as long as the country’s government and people ask for it… those who have illegally come to Syria and occupied its territories are those who should leave the country”, he contended.

A senior Iranian diplomat visited Damascus and met with President Bashar al-Assad as well as the Syrian foreign minister. The Iranian official discussed with Assad “Iran’s viewpoints and stances regarding the Astana Process and the fifth meeting of Syria’s Constitutional Committee in Geneva”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “the IDF is operating and will keep operating on the border and beyond… we will not hesitate to uproot the Iranian entrenchment near our borders, and [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah knows well that his decision to build bunkers of ammunition and rockets and to strengthen Hizbollah’s capabilities is putting him in danger and putting the lives of Lebanese citizens in danger”. He also warned: “If a confrontation occurs on the northern front, the State of Lebanon will be the one that pays the heaviest price because [the ammunition and rockets] are in civilian areas”. 

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken remarked that “as a practical matter, the Golan is very important to Israel’s security. As long as Assad is in power in Syria, as long as Iran is present in Syria, militia groups backed by Iran, the Assad regime itself – all of these pose a significant security threat to Israel, and as a practical matter, the control of the Golan in that situation I think remains of real importance to Israel’s security”. He further noted that “legal questions are something else. And over time, if the situation were to change in Syria, that’s something we’d look at. But we are nowhere near as that”. Prime Minister Netanyahu subsequently said: “With an agreement, without an agreement, we are not coming down from the Golan. It will remain a sovereign part of the State of Israel”.

Syria state media reported that Israel had launched "air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missiles against some targets in the southern region".

The Israeli military reported that “anti-aircraft missiles were… fired toward an IDF UAV during routine activity over Lebanon. The aircraft was not hit and we continued our mission as planned”.

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson remarked that “we will renew U.S. efforts to promote a political settlement to end Syria’s civil war in close consultations with our allies, our partners and the UN. A political settlement must address the underlying causes that led to nearly a decade of civil war”. He further stated that “we will use the tools at our disposal, including economic pressure, to push for meaningful reform and accountability, and we’ll continue to support the UN’s role in negotiating a political settlement in line with UNSCR 2254. We will also restore U.S. leadership in providing humanitarian aid”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “when I tell you I know there are homes in Lebanon that have guest rooms and missile rooms, it’s not just a slogan. It’s the reality on the ground. Eventually, we will have to attack missiles that are being stored within civilian populations. This is verified intelligence, and we saw the repercussions of such reckless practice by Hizbollah in the port of Beirut”.

Hizbollah reported downing an Israeli drone that had entered Lebanese airspace. The Israeli military confirmed that “during operational activities by IDF troops on the Lebanese border, an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory”.

Unconfirmed media reports indicated that suspected Israeli strikes had “targeted sites belonging to pro-Iranian militias” in north-eastern Syria.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes against Hama in north-western Syria, which it said caused eight casualties.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes in eastern Syria. Unconfirmed estimates from monitoring groups suggested that “at least 57 fighters were killed and dozens wounded” in the operation, which an unnamed U.S. official said had been “carried out with intelligence provided by the U.S.” An Israeli minister, without confirming Israeli involvement in the incident, underscored that “the Iranians want permission from Assad to act freely in Syria, to transform it into the model of Hizbollah… this is all to deter us from acting against its nuclear program”. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and urged the UN “Security Council… [to] take immediate and decisive measures to prevent the repetition of those Israeli terrorist aggressions”. The IRGC subsequently denied any casualties among Iranian and Afghan forces in the strike, claiming that Israelis “do not dare to attack the Iranian and resistance groups’ centers and positions in Syria”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “carried out a missile aggression from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan on some targets in the southern region”.

The GCC Supreme Council denounced “the Iranian existence in the Syrian territories and Iran’s interference in the Syrian affairs, demanding to expel all Iranian forces, Hizbollah militias and all sectarian militias that Iran recruited to work in Syria”.

An IRGC commander indicated that “what you see in missile power existing in Palestine’s Gaza and Lebanon is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran… Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and other Islamic countries enjoy pinpointing missiles to confront the Zionist regime”. “Iran will support anyone and/or any country that confronts the Zionist regime [ie, Israel]”, he underscored.

Syrian state media reported Israeli air strikes “targeting one of the Syrian air defences units” near Damascus, killing one soldier, injuring three and causing material damage. Other accounts suggested that a weapons depot was struck near the border with Lebanon.

The Israeli military reported sighting “a number of suspects approaching the security fence between Israel and Lebanon. One suspect crossed a few metres into Israeli territory before retreating”. “Our troops stopped the suspects and confirmed that there were no further infiltrations”, the IDF added.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was cited as saying that “his group now has twice as many precision-guided missiles as it had a year ago”, and “Israel’s efforts to prevent it from acquiring them have failed”. He further emphasised that “the last few weeks of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump are critical and must be treated with care”, while pledging revenge over the January 2020 killing of Iranian IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani as well as the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria.

Syrian state media reported that the country’s air defences intercepted “an Israeli missile aggression” targeting Masyaf in the Hama governate. Unconfirmed reports indicated that “the strikes hit positions of Iran-backed militias and killed at least six foreign paramilitaries”.

An Israeli military spokesperson was cited as asserting that “Israel has no intention of stopping its efforts of preventing Iran from taking hold of areas in Syria and Lebanon”, adding that “the extended array of anti-aircraft systems deployed in Syria is no obstacle for the IDF”. He further noted that “Israel knows about the current efforts being undertaken by Hizbollah and will know how to neutralise any weapon or technology of the terrorist group – by military means or otherwise”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasised that “we will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons”, adding: “We do not take lightly the threats made against us, nor do we shy away from them. Our policy is clear and consistent: whoever tries to harm us will suffer a crushing blow”. He also underscored that Israel would “continue to act against attempts by Iran and its proxies to establish military bases in Syria”.

The U.S. Treasury Department designated “two individuals, nine business entities and the Central Bank of Syria… pursuant to Syria sanctions authorities”. In parallel, the State Department sanctioned six Syrians, including President Bashar al-Assad’s wife and the commander of Syria’s military intelligence.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, asked “why do you send Afghans to the Syrian war”, maintained that “we do not send anyone to Syria… nobody goes to war on behalf of a foreign country to a third country. Our brothers would go to [Syria] voluntarily”. Zarif further noted that the majority of Afghan soldiers “have rejoined normal life… as now the war is over in Syria”, estimating fewer than 2,000 remained in Syria. “As they went to Syria to join the anti-Daesh forces”, he added, “we, without any hesitation, supported all resistance forces against terrorism and extremism”, confirming: “We support the families of those who get martyred”.

Iran’s UN envoy told the Security Council that “Iran is fully committed to contributing to a political solution of the Syrian crisis” and asserted: “Sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria must be fully respected by all, separatist agendas and illegitimate self-rule initiatives must be rejected and all foreign forces whose presence is not permitted by the Syrian Government, particularly the U.S. forces who are following a hidden agenda, must leave Syria”. He further denounced “Israel’s continued aggression against Syria”, adding that “such provocative military adventurism must stop”.

Israel’s military chief of staff reported that “the Iranian entrenchment in Syria is in a clear slowdown as a result of IDF activity, but we still have a long way to go to complete our goals in this arena”. He also indicated that Israel had “struck over 500 targets this year, on all fronts, in addition to multiple clandestine missions”, further noting “many offensive [cyber] operations”.

The U.S. designated Hassan Irloo, whom it described as “an official in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and the Iranian regime’s envoy to the Huthi rebels in Yemen” on counterterrorism authorities. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that “by dispatching Irloo to Yemen, the IRGC-QF is signaling its intent to increase support to the Huthis and further complicate international efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict”. The U.S. also sanctioned “Al-Mustafa International University for facilitating IRGC-QF recruitment efforts and one individual”. According to the Treasury Department, the university “is used as a recruitment platform by the IRGC-QF for intelligence collection and operations, including recruitment for the IRGC-QF-led foreign militias fighting on behalf of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria”. The following day, Iran blacklisted the U.S. ambassador to Yemen for having “a leading role in organising, financing and arming, directing and carrying out actions of aggressor coalition and formation of human tragedy in Yemen”.

Syrian Foreign Minister Feisal Meqdad visited Tehran and met with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and other senior officials. Discussing the trip, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson maintained that “political solutions are the only possible option to end the current crisis” in Syria and affirmed that “Iran stands beside the Syrian people and the government in the fight against terrorism”. The following day, President Rouhani called Syrian a “strategic ally” and asserted that Israel “must be confronted until the liberation of the occupied territories, including Golan Heights”. Iran’s Defence Minister, Amir Hatami, also voiced “the determination of Iran to continue cooperation with Syria in the reconstruction phase of this country”.

Israel’s military chief of staff affirmed that “we will continue to operate forcefully as needed against the Iranian entrenchment in Syria and we will continue to maintain full preparedness against any expression of violence against us”.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN wrote to the Security Council asserting that “the Syrian regime continues to allow Iran and its proxies to use its territory, including military facilities and infrastructure, to entrench its presence in Syria and undermine efforts to maintain stability in the region… These activities constitute a serious and blatant violation of the Disengagement Agreement (1974); carry the potential for serious escalation in the region; and pose a risk not only to the local civilian population, but also to the UN personnel on the ground”. The envoy further called for “a total rollback of Iran and its proxies from Syria and the removal of Iranian military infrastructure from Syrian territory”. The following day, Iran’s UN envoy told the council that Iran “strongly condemn[ed] Israel’s continued aggression against Syria’s sovereignty”.

Syrian state media reported what it said were Israeli airstrikes “from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan towards south Damascus, causing only material damage”. 

The Israeli military announced that it had “exposed a number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near the Israeli side of the Alpha Line on the southern Golan Heights”, adding that “we hold the Syria regime responsible for all events in Syria and will not tolerate any violation of our sovereignty”. The IDF subsequently announced that its aircraft had in response “attacked military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian army… in Syria. The attack damaged warehouses, command posts and military complexes, and batteries of surface-to-air missiles”; Syrian state media reported three fatalities and one injured soldier. An IDF spokesperson asserted that “We are attacking against the host, and the visitor who is really not wanted”, while Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged that “we will not allow Iranian military entrenchment against us in Syria and we will not tolerate any attempt to attack us from Syrian territory. Whoever tries to attack us or attacks us will bear the consequences”. On 22 November, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that “Iran’s presence in Syria is advisory and if anyone distorts this presence, he/she will receive a crushing response”. He further rejected any Iranian fatalities in the Israeli strike.

Secretary Pompeo announced that “the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury sanctioned nineteen individuals and entities under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and other sanctions authorities”. “The Assad regime has a choice: take irreversible steps toward a peaceful resolution of this decade-long conflict or face further crippling sanctions”, Pompeo asserted.

On the sideline of a military drill along Israel’s northern border, Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that “even during the coronavirus, our enemies are not stagnant and neither are we… I have been impressed by the vast improvement in the IDF’s offensive capabilities. Hizbollah and the state of Lebanon should take this into account. Whoever attacks us will encounter firepower and a steel fist that will destroy any enemy”.

Syrian state media reported that an Israeli strike had targeted “a school in Quneitra… causing only material damage”; other reports suggested that the facility was “a base for pro-Iran militias”. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently remarked that “I won’t go into who fired what... We won’t allow terrorist operatives from Hizbollah or Iran to set up on the Golan Heights border and we will do what is necessary to drive them out of there”. 

The U.S. ambassador to the UN told the Security Council that “the Assad regime continues to give Iran and its military proxies safe harbour to extend their terror campaign and project its military power deeper into the Middle East, threatening the lives of the Syrian people, but also the security of Israel”. She further asserted that “Iranian forces must withdraw from Syria for there to be lasting peace. Only the UN-facilitated political solution outlined in Resolution 2254 will pave the way for Syria at peace with its people and the region”.

Israeli media citing the Israeli military reported that in late September, “Israeli soldiers destroyed two Syrian military posts in the demilitarised zone… in a warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose forces are encroaching on the Golan Heights”. An Israeli commander noted that “we are familiar with the cooperation between the Syrian army and Hizbollah, and any military entrenchment by the [Syrian army] has the potential to be a dual entrenchment…We won’t allow the south of Syria to become the south of Lebanon”.

President Bashar al-Assad maintained that “we can only have normal relations with Israel when we have our land back. It’s very simple. So, it is possible when Israel is ready and Israel is not ready. It has never been ready”. He also asserted that “we don’t have Iranian troops [in Syria]… They support Syria, they send their military experts, they work with our troops on the ground, the exist with the Syrian army”. “The Iranian issue is a pretext for occupying Syrian land and supporting terrorists”, Assad insisted.

The U.S. unveiled “seventeen Syria sanctions designations as part of the Administration’s continuing campaign to achieve the goals of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and hold Assad and his enablers accountable for their crimes”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed that “if Iran wants to base itself in the north, we are ready to fight them… We will do everything in order to protect the State of Israel; we are not ruling out a preliminary strike”.

Media reports indicated that a suspected Israeli strike hit “ammunition depots and vehicles of the Iranian-backed militias” in Deir al-Zour province, killing ten.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had carried out airstrikes near Aleppo. “The army air defences confronted the aggression and shot down the majority of the missiles”, the report added.

The Lebanese army reported that it had downed an Israeli drone that had entered Lebanese airspace. The Israeli military stated that an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory during “operational activity”, noting that “there is no risk of breach of information”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes “from the side of al-Tanf into the direction of T-4 airport” near Homs, causing material damage but no casualties. Media reports indicated that additional suspected Israeli strikes targeted sites in Deir al-Zour province, purportedly killing “sixteen Iraqi paramilitary fighters loyal to Iran”.

Syria state media reported that “air defences confronted… an Israeli missile aggression that targeted the southern region”. Two soldiers were reportedly killed and seven injured.

On the sidelines of a Syrian Constitutional Committee meeting in Geneva, Iran, Russia and Turkey “reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic”. They further voiced “their opposition to the illegal seizure and transfer of oil revenues that should belong to the Syrian Arab Republic”, and “condemned the continuing Israel’s [sic] military attacks in Syria”.

The Israeli army reported that “during operational activity in northern Israel last night, shots were fired from Lebanon toward IDF troops. We responded with fire, and our aircraft struck Hizbollah observation posts near the border”. Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “we will not allow [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah to harm our soldiers or our country. We will respond forcefully to any incidents on our border”. Prime Minister Netanyahu said “Israel views the gunfire against our troops by Hizbollah with great severity”, and urged “Hizbollah not to test the strike force of Israel. Hizbollah is again putting Lebanon at risk because of its aggressiveness”.

Hizbollah reported that it had intercepted an Israeli UAV in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military stated that “an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory. There is no fear of classified information leaking”.

Referring to the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria, Hizbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “Hizbollah will respond, but the response will be studied and measured, only [a] serious, calculated action would be taken, not media stunts”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Syria, James Jeffrey, reiterated that “our goals [in Syria] remain as they have been for years: the enduring defeat of ISIS and al-Qaeda, an irreversible political solution to the Syrian conflict in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the removal of all Iranian-commanded forces. We are maintaining our maximum political and economic pressure for these goals… Our policy isn’t regime change; our policy is a change in behavior of whoever is governing in Damascus”. He further commented on a deal between Delta Crescent Energy, a U.S. company, and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and maintained that “we are not involved in the commercial decisions of our local partners… The U.S. government doesn’t own, control or manage oil resources in Syria”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “while [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is our biggest enemy to the north, he is the biggest problem for Lebanon… We are fighting enemies that keep weapons and operate in civilian surroundings. If we don’t have a choice but to fight, it will have dire consequences”. He also remarked that “Iran is interested in opening a terror franchise in Syria, and we must prevent the opening of this franchise as much as possible. We are operating in Syria and in other places around the region all the time and with all kinds of methods, and we will continue to do so”. The following day, Prime Minister Netanyahu told the French president that “in order to prevent disasters like the one that occurred at Beirut port, the explosives and missiles that Hizbollah has hidden must be removed from all concentrations of civilian population in Lebanon”. “Hizbollah is sorely mistaken if thinks it can solve the crisis in Lebanon by creating a crisis with Israel”, he added.

The Israeli military announced that it had “identified, monitored and downed a drone which infiltrated into northern Israel along the Blue Line”.

The Israeli army announced that it had “thwarted an attempt by four terrorists to place explosives near the security fence between Israel and Syria. Our troops and aircraft fired toward the squad and a hit was identified”. Israel’s top military official on 7 August argued that the “squad was sent by Iran, which was part of the process of establishing a radical axis in Syria”. The IDF confirmed that it had responded to the incident by targeting Syrian “observation posts, intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery and command and control systems”. Syrian state media reported “material losses” from the attack. Prime Minister Netanyahu later maintained that “we hit a cell and now we hit the dispatchers. We will do what is necessary in order to defend ourselves. I suggest to all of them, including Hizbollah, to consider this”.

Senior defence officials convened the annual U.S.-Israel Defense Policy Advisory Group (DPAG). The Israeli readout noted that “throughout the sessions, both sides discussed strategic and regional security challenges, with emphasis on Iran and its malign regional activity, as well as its nuclear aspirations”.

The U.S. designated fourteen Syrian individuals and entities pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (Caesar Act). The same day, the U.S. special envoy for Syria, commenting on Iran’s “military cooperation agreement” with Damascus, asserted that “such military aid to the Assad regime, violates the Caesar Act… The Iranian regime’s pledge to export military equipment to Syria is in blatant defiance of the UN arms embargo under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, and it’s a further demonstration of why we in the U.S. think it’s an imperative that the Security Council must act to extend the arms embargo on Iran” beyond October. He further maintained that “the Iraqi militant groups that are sponsored by the Iranian regime, have been dealing with the Syrian regime in a way that would clearly violate… the spirit of the Caesar Act as well as UN Security Council resolutions”.

At a session of the Supreme Defence Council, Lebanese President Michel Aoun denounced “the Israeli aggressions on south Lebanon yesterday… and considered what happened as a threat on stability in southern Lebanon”.  Meanwhile, the IDF deployed further military and intelligence support to Israel’s northern border. The same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with top military officials at IDF Northern Command headquarters, assessing that “everything happening now is the result of the effort by Iran and its Lebanese proxies to entrench militarily in our region. [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is serving this Iranian interest at Lebanon’s expense”. “We will continue to take action to thwart Iran’s military entrenchment in our region”, he added. Relatedly, Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “I suggest that the countries of the region – near and far, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and anyone involved in terrorism – remember that the State of Israel has infinite capacity and we know how to use it”.

The Israeli army announced that it had “thwarted an infiltration attempt by a Hizbollah terror squad in northern Israel”. Addressing the Knesset, Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would “not allow Iran to entrench militarily on our border with Syria”, underscored that “Lebanon and Hizbollah will bear responsibility for any attack against us emanating from Lebanese territory” and indicated that “We are active in all arenas for the security of Israel – both close to our borders and far from them”. Hizbollah subsequently issued a statement maintaining it “did not engage in any clash, nor did it open fire during today’s incident… The scared and tense enemy unilaterally opened fire”. It further pledged an “inevitable” response to the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in Syria and insisted that “today’s Israeli bombardment… will not remain unanswered”. Later in the day, Netanyahu asserted: “[Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is embroiling Lebanon because of Iran… we view the attempt to infiltrate our territory with great severity”. “Hizbollah needs to understand that it is playing with fire. Any attack against us will be met with great strength”, he added.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told his cabinet that “we are acting according to our consistent policy of not allowing Iran to entrench militarily on our northern border. Lebanon and Syria bear the responsibility for any attack against Israel emanating from their territories”. The same day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz visited the northern border and listed “removing Iranian entrenchment in Syria, blocking the transfer of advanced [weapons] and preventing the development of precision [guided missiles] anywhere in the region – in Syria or in Lebanon” as Israel’s security interests. “We don’t want any unnecessary escalations, but anyone who tests us will be met by a very high capability to take action, and I hope we won’t need to use it”, he added, while further anticipating that “there can be [security] events on the border. We are prepared for all possibilities”.

The Israeli army reported that “during an Israel Defense Forces operation on the Lebanese border, an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory”.

The Israeli army confirmed that “explosions were heard adjacent to the security fence from the Syrian side of Israel’s northern border. Damage to a civilian building and an Israeli vehicle was likely caused by fragments”. It subsequently also raised “readiness to defend Israel’s northern border from all enemy threats with changes to troop deployment and enhanced field intelligence activity in the area”, asserting: “we hold the Lebanese government responsible for all actions emanating from Lebanon”. Later on, the IDF announced that “earlier today, munitions were fired from Syria toward Israel. In response, our aircraft struck military targets in southern Syria belonging to the Syrian Armed Forces”, describing these as “SAF observation posts and intelligence collection systems located in SAF bases”; Syria media reported two casualties. “We hold the Syrian regime responsible and will respond to any violation of Israeli sovereignty”, the IDF warned.

The U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, visited Israel and met with senior officials. Israel’s top military official emphasised that “the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. Armed Forces share a mutual interest to prevent Iran and its proxies from jeopardising the stability of the region”, and underscored that Israel “will act to the extent necessary to remove any threat that endangers the sovereignty of Israel or its citizens”. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz stated that “we have no interest in escalation, but we will do everything necessary to protect Israeli citizens, by all means, and under all conditions. I do not suggest that our enemies test us”.

The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, announced the arrest of ten Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine members who allegedly were “involved in planning attacks against Israeli targets”. The agency reported that interrogation of one of the suspects indicated that “the organisation conducted joint exercises with officials in Iran, as well as Hizbollah and the Syrian military, and they were also sources of funding for the organisation’s activities”.

Media reports indicated that a suspected Israeli strike “hit weapons depots and military positions belonging to Syrian regime forces and Iran-backed militia fighters south of Damascus”. Syrian state media reported injuries to “at least seven Syrian troops”, while Hizbollah confirmed one fatality from its ranks. On 23 July, the Israeli army announced that “in accordance with a recently-concluded situational assessment, we have decided to reinforce the Northern Command with select infantry forces”. Responding to suggestions that Israel may have sent a message to Hizbollah after the incident, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said: “we acted against the entrenchment of Iran in Syria. If someone involved in Iran’s activities in Syria – which we will continue to act against – this is liable to happen. We take that into account”.

Iran’s military chief of staff, Mohammad Baqeri, met with the Syrian Minister of Defence in Damascus and inked “a comprehensive military cooperation agreement”. Baqeri reportedly expressed Tehran’s commitment to “strengthen Syria’s air defence systems in line with the reinvigoration of military cooperation between the two countries”, and said the deal “will increase our determination for joint cooperation to confront the U.S. pressures”. The following day, Baqeri met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who remarked that “this agreement reflects the strategic level of relations between Iran and Syria”. A U.S. military spokesperson subsequently asserted that “the mission of U.S. forces in Syria today remains the same as it was when they first began operations in 2014… U.S. service members will continue to execute the Defeat ISIS mission in Syria, working in conjunction with vetted local forces in northeast Syria and around Al-Tanf Garrison”.

Referring to a series of blasts in Iran including the 2 July incident at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) that Iranian officials acknowledged caused “significant damage”, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz indicated that “everyone can be suspicious of us all the time… But not every event that happens in Iran is connected to us”. He further asserted that “a nuclear Iran is a threat to the world and the region, as well as a threat to Israel. And we will do everything to prevent that from happening. And we will do everything possible to prevent Iran from spreading terror and weapons, but I do not refer to any individual event”. Relatedly, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi maintained that “we have a long-term policy… not to allow Iran to have nuclear abilities. This regime with those abilities is an existential threat to Israel, and Israel cannot allow it to establish itself on our northern border”. “We take actions that are better left unsaid”, Ashkenazi asserted.

Meeting with Russian and Turkish counterparts under the “Astana Process” talks over Syria, President Rouhani asserted that U.S. sanctions against Syria were “economic terrorism” and pledged that Iran “will continue to support the people and the legitimate government of Syria with greater power. He went on to argue that “the illegitimate presence of the occupying forces of the U.S. regime on Syrian soil has become a destabilising factor for Syria and the entire region, and is plundering natural resources of the country by increasing its illegal military bases in Syria's oil-rich in the eastern Euphrates”. Rouhani further condemned “the increasing scope of the Zionist Regime's [ie, Israel’s] aggression on Syrian soil, and maintained that Israel’s “actions along with the occupation of the Golan Heights have been a factor in destabilising and threatening the peace and security of the region, and the occupying regime will face its consequences”. The meeting concluded with a joint statement emphasising that “there could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict and that it could only be resolved through the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254”. It further recognised “Israeli military attacks in Syria as destabilising and violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country and intensifying the tension in the region”.

In a joint press conference with the U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, Prime Minister Netanyahu contended that Iran “continues its secret program to develop nuclear weapons. It continues its secret program to develop the means to delivering nuclear weapons”. He also affirmed that “we take repeated and forceful military action against Iran and its proxies in Syria and elsewhere if necessary… Israel will continue to take these actions”. Addressing Hook, Netanyahu said: “it is time to implement now snapback sanctions. I don't think we can afford to wait. We should not wait for Iran to start its breakout to a nuclear weapon because when that happens it will be too late for sanctions”. Hook also met with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi during his visit to Jerusalem; Ashkenazi reiterated “concerns about Iran’s continued breach of the [UN] arms embargo” and underscored that “Iran continues to support and arm its proxies in the region, chief among them Hizbollah and Hamas”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu opined that “three main challenges are before us, and we are taking action without respite against them: First, we are taking constant action against the efforts of Iran and its proxies to entrench militarily in Syria. The Iranian military must leave Syria. Second, we are taking action against the efforts of our enemies to develop precision missiles in Syria, Lebanon and other areas. Third, and most importantly, we will not allow Iran to attain nuclear weapons”. “Iran is continuing to lie to the international community in its effort to achieve a bomb”, Netanyahu argued. “I have been claiming this for years and today the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, understands this”. He further affirmed that “we regard with utmost seriousness the threats of destruction against Israel by Iranian and pro-Iranian elements… Whoever tries to attack us places himself in very great danger”.

Syrian state media reported that “hostile air targets coming from east and northeast of Palmyra launched a number of missiles on some military sites” in eastern and southern Syria, causing two fatalities and four injuries. Hours later there were further reports that “the Israeli enemy launched a new aggression through which it targeted a number of the Syrian military sites” near Hama.

Israel’s top military official assessed that “Iran has become the most dangerous country in the Middle East… It has made considerable progress in its nuclear program, but the nuclear [threat] is no longer the only threat”. “Iran also holds conventional weapons”, he added. “It is supporting and financing our enemies in the first circle and chiefly Hizbollah, it influences and supports Hamas and the Islamic Jihad and it is behind attempts at terror actions against Israel in a variety of dimensions and arenas, near and far”.

The sanctions provisions of U.S. “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019” (the Caesar Act) went into effect. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that “the Treasury Department and State Department are releasing 39 designations under the Caesar Act and Executive Order 13894 as the beginning of what will be a sustained campaign of economic and political pressure to deny the Assad regime revenue and support it uses to wage war and commit mass atrocities against the Syrian people”. Pompeo further asserted that “we anticipate many more sanctions and we will not stop until Assad and his regime stop their needless, brutal war against the Syrian people and the Syrian government agrees to a political solution to the conflict as called for by UNSCR 2254”. 

Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that “the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) determined that Iran had refused to allow IAEA inspectors to clandestine sites at which Iran had carried out secret military nuclear activity. Iran has systematically violated its commitments by hiding sites and enriching fissionable material, and has committed other violations”. “The reality certainly requires it in the light of these revelations, for the international community to join the U.S. and reimpose paralysing sanctions on Iran”, he added. Netanyahu went on to assert that “the coronavirus has not lessened by one iota our determination to act against Iran’s aggression… Israel will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weapons and will continue to act methodically against Iran’s attempts to militarily entrench on our borders”.

Syrian state media reported that “Israeli warplanes targeted, from over the Lebanese airspace, one of the military sites… [near] Misyaf, and the army air defences immediately confronted the hostile missiles and shot down a number of them”. According to the report, the attack “caused material damage without human causalities”.

Media reports suggested that there had been an air strike against “three military vehicles belonging to Iran-backed paramilitary fighters near the Iraqi border”. There were separate reports of strikes targeting “Iran-backed militias in northern Syria”.

Hizbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah argued that “Israel is aware that any attack on Lebanon will not pass without a response”, adding that “the latest Israeli attack on a car that had members of Hizbollah in it in the Syrian territories without causing casualties was not an Israeli error… Israel intended not to hurt the men in that car because it was aware that the equation today is that there would be a response on any assassination”. He further noted that “America wants to humiliate Lebanon and impose its conditions on it”… the solution for the economic crisis is to abandon U.S. satisfaction and head east [ie, China]”. Nasrallah also “ruled out [the possibility of] any war between the U.S. and Iran or between Israel and Lebanon unless the U.S. or Israel decide to make a stupid act”.

Hizbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah argued that “Israel is aware that any attack on Lebanon will not pass without a response”, adding that “the latest Israeli attack on a car that had members of Hizbollah in it in the Syrian territories without causing casualties was not an Israeli error… Israel intended not to hurt the men in that car because it was aware that the equation today is that there would be a response on any assassination”. He further noted that “America wants to humiliate Lebanon and impose its conditions on it”… the solution for the economic crisis is to abandon U.S. satisfaction and head east [ie, China]”. Nasrallah also “ruled out [the possibility of] any war between the U.S. and Iran or between Israel and Lebanon unless the U.S. or Israel decide to make a stupid act”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told the cabinet that “the security challenges have not stopped for a moment, neither have the threats. You certainly heard the ruler of Iran, Khamenei, threatening our destruction. Whoever threatens us with destruction will certainly not succeed, but places himself in great danger”. “Our policy is to oppose Iranian aggression in every place and to oppose Iran’s attempts to entrench in Syria”, Netanyahu added. “We are active constantly and… oppose Iran’s attempt to place or develop in Syria weapons to serve its proxies and forces that could endanger the State of Israel”. In related remarks, Defence Minister Benny Gantz indicated that “we are still keeping a close watch on the military fronts in Lebanon and Syria. The security problems that could happen in the north have not passed… We have to stretch our hand out to peace on every front – and have the military strength that can ensure we will reach peace and preserve it”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, indicated that “we have seen some tactical displacement of Iranian troops. We see both Russia and Syria recognising the incentives for Iranian troops and forces under Iranian command and control to leave Syria… That has been a condition of American and the international community providing reconstruction assistance”. Hook added that Iran “is an obstacle… to moving along toward a post-conflict political process. So we think that there are increasing incentives for Iran to leave Syria”. Relatedly, the Israeli military reported “a backward movement [of Iranian/Iranian-backed forces] from various locations to other locations that are further away and in reduced numbers”, assessing the shift to be “not massive, not underwhelming” yet “undeniable”.

Israel’s top military official asserted that “we will continue to use various military tools and specialised fighting techniques to harm the enemy”, adding that “dozens of attacks that were carried out, including recently, have already proven the superiority of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) intelligence and firepower”. “When the Israeli home front is threatened by thousands of missiles and rockets, we will not hesitate to attack forcefully in order to thwart those threats”, he added.

Outgoing Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett confirmed that “we have intensified the scope of the attacks against Iranian forces in Syria. We’ve made it clear by our actions that there’s no place protected from us. There’s no safe place for those who try to attack the State of Israel”. He further argued that “Iran has in fact started a process of withdrawing from Syria, but we’ve got to finish the job… We have to increase the diplomatic, economic, military and technological pressure, as well as operate in other realms”. The same day, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that “we are in Syria to help them fight terrorism… our attendance in Syria does not concern the U.S. and the Zionist regime [ie, Israel] at all”.

Syrian state media reported an explosion in Aleppo. Later in the day, airstrikes were reported near the Iraq-Syria border.

The U.S. convened the UN “Security Council to meet under its 2231 Format to discuss Iran’s April 22 satellite launch”, which it called “yet another example of Iran’s relentless defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231”. According to the U.S. mission, its representatives “highlighted Iran’s ongoing violation of the UN arms embargo in Resolution 2231, reminding Council members that Iran continues to funnel weapons to proxy forces and terrorist groups in places like Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain”. The U.S. also argued that “Iran’s continued violations of the Security Council’s arms embargo demands greater pressure from the Security Council, not less, and the U.S. will work tirelessly with a coalition of concerned nations to ensure the embargo is extended”.

A senior U.S. diplomat assessed that “the Iranian threat… is actually severe and getting worse on some fronts, and the Iranians continue to make progress on the nuclear front, etc. So this is a growing concern of ours”. Asked about “incidents lately that kind of increase that urgency about the Iranian threat”, the official replied: “the most obvious thing is that you see things oftentimes blowing up in Syria… what appears to be increased Israeli operational tempo and broadening its target set”. The official went on to say that “the Iranians are still certainly provocative. Maybe in some places slow down operational tempo a little bit… There are [COVID-19] curfews so it is hard for their proxy militias to go out at night and try and kill Americans. But they still go, and the threat is still there, and they’re still planning and they’re still shooting. Their allies in Iraq continue to shoot rockets at U.S. facilities”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah contended that the “Israeli defence minister… is talking about fake victories in Syria. The Israelis lose the war in Syria, and they have been targeting all what is related to missiles manufacturing in Syria, because they believe that missiles pose a high risk to Israel”. Nasrallah also argued that Israel had “set a fake goal for Syria” in seeking an Iranian withdrawal, on the grounds that “there have been no Iranian troops in Syria but rather there have been military advisers who train forces and coordinate Tehran’s support to Damascus”.

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “Iran has been persistent in its efforts to establish this beachhead basically on Israel’s border and to bring in advanced weaponry and assets targeting Israel and moving equipment… through Syria to Hizbollah with this sort of land bridge. We see repeatedly, oftentimes with no claims of responsibility, that these assets are being hit with great regularity, just pounded, and it would make sense at a certain point that Iran would want to cut its losses and downsize its presence there just because it’s increasingly costly to them in terms of life and property”. The official added that the Iranians “would be well advised to start using some of this investment in this military infrastructure in Syria and with Hizbollah to start spending some of that money on their own people who are suffering terribly from COVID”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement, James Jeffrey, confirmed that “we see some Iranian movement around Syria pulling back from areas where the Israelis have struck them. We’ve also seen a withdrawal of Iranian-backed militias – some Hizbollah, some from other countries. But this may be chalked up to a relative lull in the fighting”. He further noted that “what we have not seen… is any strategic Iranian commitment not to try to use Syria both as a second launching pad for long-range weapons against Israel and as a conduit – the famous Shiite Crescent – on to provide Hizbollah more lethal and more modern precision-guided missiles, again, to threaten Israel. That would be the big change”. Jeffrey added that “our policy right now is to restore the situation in 2011 before the conflict began, and that would eventually lead to all of the other military forces that have entered leaving. Ones were most interested in, of course, are the Iranians and the Iranian-commanded militias”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that “we have been very clear to the Assad regime all along, and to the Russians in Syria: the Iranians need to leave. They need to leave not only the south west corner that has a direct and real impact on Israel and risks to the Golan, but more broadly throughout the country”. He further argued that “the very terror regime that we talk about in the Islamic Republic of Iran has got a campaign that supports what Assad has done that has brutalised and destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands, caused six or seven million people to have to flee Syria. The Iranian regime is responsible for that in the same way that the Syrian regime is”.

Amidst a series of suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett asserted that “we are determined, more determined [than Iran], and I can tell you why — for Iran, Syria is an adventure happening 1,000km away from home. For us, it’s our lives”. He further warned that “Iranian soldiers who come to Syria and operate there… are putting their lives at risk, they are paying that price and will continue to do so. We will not give up and we will not allow the establishment of an Iranian forward operating base in Syria”. In related comments, an unnamed Israeli defence official assessed that “Syria is paying a growing price for the Iranian presence in its territory, for a war that isn’t [Syria’s]. Iran has turned from an asset to Syria into a burden”.

Syrian state media reported that the “air defences confronted… a missile aggression” near Aleppo that “targeted some military depots”. There was also reports of a separate strike in Deir al-Zour province.

Asked about reported Israeli strikes in Syria, the U.S. Special Representative for Syria, James Jeffrey, noted that “the U.S. supports Israel’s efforts to secure its self-defence. Israel is facing an existential threat from Iran, as they have said a thousand times that their mission is to destroy Israel. The Iranians are in Syria in large numbers, passing on long-range weapon systems to Hizbollah that threaten Israel”. “We give the support that is needed for effective Israeli actions to protect itself, and in protecting itself it is protecting all neighbors of Assad: Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon”, he added. Jeffry also maintained that “our policy is that all Iranian-commanded forces have to leave Syria, along with frankly all other military forces that entered after 2011. This includes the U.S., if all of the reports are correct about the Israeli Air Force that would include the Israelis, and it would include the Turks… The Russians entered before 2011, therefore they are exempt”.

Syrian state media reported that Israeli helicopters “launched an aggression… with a number of missiles, from over the occupied Syrian Golan, on sites in the southern region”. Later in the day, a Syrian “military source” was quoted as saying that “successive explosions were heard at a military position in the city of Homs”, attributed “to human error during the transportation of some ammunition”.

Syrian state media reported that the “air defences… repelled an Israeli missile aggression from over Lebanese airspace, towards Syrian territory”, causing three civilian deaths and three injuries in two sites near Damascus. The strike came one day after Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett indicated: “keep your ears open. We’ve gone from a policy of blocking [Iran] to pushing it out” from Syria. Bennett on 28 April reiterated that “we have moved from blocking Iran’s entrenchment in Syria to forcing it out of there, and we will not stop… we will continue to take the fight to the enemy’s territory”.

Syrian state media reported that “army air defences confronted an Israeli missile aggression over Palmyra, east of Homs, and shot down a number of the hostile missiles”.

Citing a Hizbollah official, media reports indicated that “two missiles from an Israeli drone targeted a four-wheel-drive vehicle carrying two members of Lebanon’s Hizbollah… near the Syria-Lebanon border, but neither person was hurt”.

The Israeli military released footage of what it said was a senior Syrian commander “visiting Hizbollah positions in Syria”, adding: “our message: we see you. Consider this a warning. We won’t allow Hizbollah to entrench itself militarily in Syria”.  

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that “Hizbollah has fewer dollars today to engage in nefarious activity than they did when President Trump took office, and they will continue to have fewer dollars tomorrow until they fundamentally get the Iranian regime to change its model”. He further asserted that Iran used its resources “to take weaponry into Iraq, to underwrite Hizbollah and Lebanon and threaten Israel, all of the things that the Iranians have engaged in for so long, even in this [COVID-19] crisis the Iranian regime hasn’t ceased doing, that’s most unfortunate”. Pompeo added: “we hope that the people of Iran one day will get a regime with a change in outlook, a change which says, ‘no, we want to respect what the Iranian people truly want’”.