Israel strikes Syria: Assad regime’s warships wiped out by IDF as Netanyahu’s troops advance past buffer zone

Smouldering and half-submerged, this is the mangled wreckage of a Syrian warship destroyed by Israel in the wake of Bashar al–Assad’s downfall.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s forces wiped out Syria’s military hardware, smashed its chemical weapons and seized the demilitarised Golan Heights in devastating overnight strikes.

The IDF pressed beyond the previously demilitarised buffer zone as it vowed to “attack with strength and determination” if the new Syrian regime turns against Israel.

But it strongly denied claims that its tanks had moved within 20km of the capital Damascus, insisting it is simply firming up its borders after jihadist rebels overthrew Assad.

Most of the Golan Heights – a rocky plateau about 65km south-west of Damascus – has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

It was fully annexed in 1981, a move unrecognised by most of the world. Meanwhile Turkish-backed militias marched on Kurdish positions in the north as Ankara capitalised on the historic uprising to redraw the balance of power in the Middle East.

It came as the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Al Qaeda offshoot that seized power in Syria on Sunday, vowed to hunt down the fallen dictator’s henchmen.

“We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, security and army officers involved in torturing the Syrian people,” said Abu Mohammed al-Jolani – who will now call himself by his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, instead of the nom de guerre associated with his jihadist past.

Yesterday Mohammed al-Bashir, who served as leader of the Syrian Salvation Government – which ruled over the quasi-state formed by opposition groups in Idlib in the north – was appointed as caretaker prime minister of Syria.

Security sources said HTS has also ordered its fighters to withdraw from cities and ordered the deployment of police units affiliated with the group.

It adds to hopes that the rebels, who have their origins in al-Qaida and Islamic State, have evolved to become a more pragmatic organisation.

But Syria’s powerful neighbours are taking no chances as both Turkey and Israel move to secure their borders.

Pictures show Assad regime vessels destroyed in Latakia Port while there was another hit on Qamishli International Airport in the north.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel had retaken the Golan Heights to create a “temporary defensive position”, but there were warnings the IDF’s military activity could constitute a violation of international law.

Turkey “strongly condemned” the move, accusing Israel of having an “occupying mentality”.

Egypt also accused Israel of “exploiting the power vacuum” to “occupy more Syrian territories”.

Meanwhile Ankara, widely seen as a key instigator of the HTS advance, was on manoeuvres of its own in the north.

Turkish- backed militias yesterday advanced on the Kurdish-majority city of Kobane with devastating air strikes.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed: “We cannot allow Syria to be divided again.” ‘

He said: “Any attack on the freedom of the Syrian people, the stability of the new administration, and the integrity of its lands will find us standing against it.”

The UN also announced Najat Rushdie, the deputy special envoy for Syria, will convene a humanitarian task force to coordinate responses to the collapse of Assad’s regime.