Israeli Strikes Hit Assads’s Navy, Military Arsenals

TEL AVIV—Israel targeted Syria’s naval and other military assets overnight as part of its campaign to destroy weapons left behind by the country’s military following the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad. 

Israeli missile ships overnight destroyed naval vessels belonging to Assad’s forces that held dozens of sea-to-sea missiles, people familiar with the matter said. The strikes happened in the port area of Latakia and Minet El Beida Bay, and were intended to prevent the weapons from falling into the hands of rebels that could eventually use them against Israel, the people said. State-owned Israeli Army Radio reported that Israel struck over 250 Syrian military targets in the past day.

“We’re acting to prevent lethal strategic weapons from falling into hostile hands,” said Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani in remarks to foreign journalists.