Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Monday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck sites in Syria suspected of containing chemical weapons and long-range missiles amid political turmoil in the country. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown yesterday, leading to uncertainty over future leadership.
Sa'ar said Israel targeted the sites "so they will not fall in the hands of extremists." He insisted the IDF's presence on Syrian territory is "limited and temporary" and only aiming to ensure Israel's security.
