Israel pounds Syrian army bases, denies reports of deeper incursion

Israel repeatedly struck Syrian army bases on Tuesday in strikes it says are designed to keep weapons from falling into hostile hands – but denied reports that its forces had advanced into Syria beyond a buffer zone at the border.

Since rebel troops took Damascus on Sunday, Israeli troops have moved into a demilitarized zone inside Syria established following a 1973 war. Israel calls the incursion a temporary measure to ensure border security.

Three security sources said on Tuesday the Israelis had advanced beyond the demilitarized zone. One Syrian source said they had reached the town of Qatana, several kilometers to the east of the buffer zone and just a short drive from Damascus airport.

However, an Israeli military spokesperson denied the troops had left the demilitarized zone.

"The reports circulating in the media about the alleged advancement of Israeli tanks towards Damascus are false. IDF troops are stationed within the buffer zone, as stated in the past," an official from the Israeli Defence Forces said.

Israel says it is not seeking conflict with the new authorities in Syria, but its jets have been bombing targets across the country over the past three days to ensure Syrian military equipment does not fall into hostile hands.

Regional security sources and officers within the now fallen Syrian army described Tuesday morning's air strikes as the heaviest yet, hitting military installations and airbases across Syria, destroying dozens of helicopters and jets, as well as Republican Guard assets in and around Damascus.

The rough tally of 200 raids overnight had left nothing of the Syrian army's assets, said the sources.

The UN special envoy for Syria called on Israel to halt its military movements and bombardments in Syria, after a war monitor reported 300 air strikes since the power shift in Damascus.

Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have condemned the Israeli incursion. Saudi Arabia said the move would "ruin Syria's chances of restoring security," while the Turkish foreign ministry said "Israel is once again displaying its occupation mentality."

Israel said its airstrikes would carry on for days but told the UN Security Council that it was not intervening in Syria's conflict. It said it had taken "limited and temporary measures" solely to protect its security.

Returning to daily business amid power handover

Syria's outgoing prime minister Mohammed Jalali on Monday agreed to hand power to the rebel-led Salvation Government, an administration previously based in a pocket of rebel-held territory in northwest Syria.

Mohamed al-Bashir has been appointed caretaker prime minister of the transitional Syrian government until March 1, 2025, he said in a televised statement. Al-Bashir ran the Salvation Government before the 12-day lightning offensive swept into Damascus.

Jalali said the handover could take days to carry out, but the reopening of banks on Tuesday was a major step towards restoring normal life, after Syrians were caught without cash following the weekend events. 

In addition to the banks, shops were reopening, traffic returned to the roads, construction workers were back fixing a roundabout in the city center and street cleaners were out sweeping the streets.

UN Syria envoy downplays HTS terrorist designation

The United Nations' special envoy for Syria said on Tuesday that it was essential transitional arrangements be as inclusive as possible – incorporating organizations like the victorious HTS rebel army, which developed from a UN-designated terrorist group. 

"It is now nine years since that resolution [declaring HTS's predecessor a terrorist group] was adopted," he told a briefing at the UN's Geneva headquarters. "The reality is so far that HTS and also the other armed groups have been sending good messages to the Syrian people... of unity, of inclusiveness."

He cautioned against calls to start repatriating the many refugees who have fled Syria over its past 13 years of conflict, stressing that the situation remained "fluid," with conflict continuing in the northeast and Israeli incursions.

"It is extremely important that we don't see any action from any international actor that destroys the possibility for this transformation in Syria to take place," he added, with reference to Israel's moves to extend a buffer zone inside the country.

Several European countries freeze Syrian asylum processing

Various European countries are to put asylum applications from Syrians on hold until further notice following the power shift in Damascus.

The decision, which affects tens of thousands of open claims, reflects the rapidly changing political situation in Syria as well as a resurgence of right-wing parties across Europe keen to restrict immigration.

Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and Croatia announced suspensions of asylum requests from Syrian refugees, while France said it hoped to confirm a similar decision shortly. 

Austria went further, announcing its intention to repatriate Syrian asylum seekers, while a Greek government spokesperson expressed hope that a peaceful transition would allow refugees to return home safely.