The spillover of the Israel–Hamas war in Syria is the impact and military engagements in Syria which are caused by the spillover of the Israel–Hamas war, and constitute a part of the ongoing Middle Eastern crisis. The conflict, originating in the Gaza Strip, has triggered regional tensions and violence, drawing Syria in through direct and indirect confrontations involving Israeli forces, Syrian state actors, and armed groups operating in Syrian territory.
The Israel–Hamas war began when Hamas-led militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which involved a rocket barrage and a few thousand militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking Israeli civilian communities and military bases. During this attack, 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, including 815 civilians.[1] In addition, 251 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive into Gaza, with the stated goal to force Israel to release Palestinian prisoners and detainees.[2] [3] Hamas stated that its attack was in response to Israel's continued occupation, the blockade of Gaza, the expansion of settlements, disregard for international law, as well as alleged threats to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the general plight of Palestinians.[4] [5] [6]
Following the attack, Israel launched one of the most destructive bombing campaigns in modern history and invaded Gaza on 27 October 2023 with the stated objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing hostages.[7] The war resulted in widespread devastation and loss of life, with over 40,000 Palestinians killed as of February 2024.[8] The ongoing war has had significant regional repercussions, including attacks by groups aligned with Hamas on U.S. military bases and vessels, and Israel's invasion of Lebanon on 1 October 2024 after an escalation with Hezbollah.[9]
The conflict has also spilled over into Syria, a country already devastated by its ongoing civil war and host to numerous proxy conflicts.[10]
Since the onset of the Israel–Hamas war, Israel has significantly escalated its military activities in Syria, targeting Iranian and Hezbollah-linked sites. Over 220 airstrikes were conducted within a year, resulting in at least 296 deaths.[11]
On 1 April 2024, a suspected Israeli airstrike targeted a consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, killing senior Quds Force commander Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and several others. This marked the death of the most senior IRGC officer since the assassination of Qasem Soleimani in 2020. The airstrike caused "massive destruction" to the consulate and neighboring buildings, according to Iranian and Syrian officials.[12]
Israeli strikes continued to escalate throughout 2024. On 13 July, a soldier was killed and three others injured during an attack near Damascus. On 31 October, strikes targeted Al-Qusayr near the Lebanese border, killing ten people and damaging residential and industrial zones. On 14 November 2024, airstrikes on Damascus killed at least 15 people, including civilians.[13] Israeli Army Radio reported that the strikes targeted assets and headquarters of PIJ.[14] [15] [16] PIJ confirmed the death of two of its leaders and a group of its cadres.[17]
On 20 November 2024, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted sites in the vicinity of Palmyra, in Homs Governorate. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, the strikes hit "residential buildings and the industrial zone". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitor, claimed the attacks killed four non-Syrian nationals, identified as members of Iranian-backed militias.[18]
See also: Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria during the Israel–Hamas war.
See also: 2024 Iran–Israel conflict and Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war.
For the first time during the war, Israeli forces carried out a ground operation in Syria, capturing Ali Soleiman al-Assi, a Syrian citizen allegedly involved in Iranian operations targeting the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. According to the Israeli military, al-Assi had been under surveillance for months. The operation, which occurred in southern Syria near Saida, was announced on 3 November 2024, although the exact timing of the raid remains unclear. Israel released body camera footage showing the apprehension of the individual, who has since been brought to Israel for interrogation.[19] This announcement marked a significant shift in Israel’s strategy in Syria.
Israeli ground operations also extended into Lebanon, with naval forces reportedly capturing a senior Hezbollah operative in a raid on a northern Lebanese town. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that these operations aim to curb Hezbollah’s armament through Iranian supply lines passing through Syria.[19]
See also: Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian civil war. The United Nations has reported that Israeli construction along the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights has led to violations of the 1974 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria. Satellite imagery and field observations indicate that new trenches and earth berms have been constructed along the Area of Separation, with some reportedly crossing into the zone. UNDOF, the UN force monitoring the region, confirmed multiple incursions by Israeli military vehicles into the Area of Separation.[20]
Israeli officials stated that these defenses are intended to prevent infiltration by Iran-backed militias. However, Syrian authorities have strongly protested the construction activities, which they claim exacerbate tensions along the frontier. The UN has raised concerns with Israeli authorities multiple times regarding these violations.[20]
The Israeli military has intensified activities along the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights, known as the "Alpha Line," in what it describes as defensive measures. Satellite imagery analyzed by the Associated Press in September 2024 revealed significant construction projects, including new trenches, paved roads, and barriers along more than 7.5 kilometers of the boundary. These actions have sparked criticism from the United Nations for violating the terms of the 1974 ceasefire agreement, which established the Area of Separation under UNDOF supervision.[21]
Israeli officials have defended the construction, citing the need to counter potential infiltrations by Iran-backed militias operating in southern Syria.[20]
The Israeli military has also emphasized its operational readiness along its "seven active fronts", with Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff Amir Baram personally inspecting the border defenses in November 2024. Baram toured the 210th Division, which oversees the Golan front, and highlighted the creation of a "dynamic and advanced defensive zone" to counter threats from Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups.[22]
Despite frequent Israeli airstrikes and ground operations targeting Iranian and Hezbollah-linked assets in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad’s government has largely avoided direct involvement in the broader Israel-Hezbollah conflict. This restraint highlights Damascus's focus on stabilizing its own territories following years of civil war and combating opposition forces that challenge its authority.
Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan has accused Syria of daily violations of the ceasefire agreement, including the presence of armed militias within the Area of Separation. In a formal complaint to the UN Secretary-General, Erdan stated that such actions "only heighten tensions in an already volatile region."