Lieutenant General (retd.) and President of the Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies Ioannis Baltzoi in a brief discussion on the Israeli airstrikes in Damascus (15-07-2025).
The recent Israeli airstrikes on Damascus were not just another show of military might in a long chain of tension in the Middle East. They were something deeper: a message with many recipients. Although the attacks were carried out in areas outside Israel’s normal operational radius, the targeting shows clear political intent.
Israel is not just showing that it can strike any point at any time; it is showing that it will not allow the consolidation of regimes or groups that directly threaten its interests, even if that means strikes next to the presidential residence, Mr. Baltzoi said.
The Druze in the Focus of Protection.
A key — and perhaps undervalued — element is the protection of the Druze, both inside and outside Israel. With approximately 650.000 Druze in Syria and 150.000-170.000 inside Israel, the ties are real and politically significant. Israel, as Mr. Baltzoi reports, considers it its obligation to protect the Druze from possible ethnic cleansing or religious persecution by paramilitary groups operating in Syria.
Chaos and Lawlessness in the Controlled Zones.
The so-called Al-Sara government — provisional, ill-organized, and weak — appears to operate through a loose network of militias. These groups do not constitute a single military force, resulting in a proliferation of lawlessness: looting of stores, executions of civilians, and humiliating acts such as shaving men’s mustaches for religious reasons. The latter, however “peripheral” it may sound, is particularly offensive to the specific culture and acts as a spark for revenge and unrest, Mr. Baltzoi added.
The Message to Ankara.
The Israeli bombings are not just for Syria. They are, equally, a message to Turkey. Against the backdrop of Ankara’s involvement in supporting radical Islamic organizations in Syria, Israel is reminding us that geographical proximity does not mean tolerance. The statement is clear: “Now that we have common borders, be careful.”
A month and a half ago, according to Mr. Baltzoi, Turkey attempted to install drones at an air base in Palmyra. Israel's response was immediate and deadly: at least three Turkish officers were killed in an airstrike.
Israel's Zone of Vital Interests.
Israel is not going to easily give up what it considers its “zone of vital interests.” As it turns out, it has no hesitation in intervening even in a way that involves state or allied targets, as long as they constitute a threat to the stability of the region and its security.
Epilogue
The climate in the Middle East remains electrified and multifaceted. The Israeli attacks are not isolated incidents, but strategic messages in all directions: to Damascus, to Ankara, but also to the world powers that are watching from a distance. In essence, a new status quo is being formed in which Israel claims a leading role. Whether as a security guarantor or as an active player in a shadow war, it does not intend to withdraw.
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