Israel targets chemical weapons and missiles in Syria to thwart rebel takeover

Israel conducted airstrikes across Syria over the weekend to target chemical weapons and missiles left by the ousted Assad regime. This follows the recent collapse of Assad's government, forcing him to flee to Russia. The airstrikes aimed to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of opposition forces, particularly the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Israel's military operations have intensified amid concerns over the potential rise of Islamist factions in the region. Israeli warplanes struck multiple sites, including missile storage and military infrastructure in Damascus and southwest Syria. The attacks were described as extensive and focused on destroying strategic military assets.