Druze and Christians in Syria The Background: Why is Israel Targeting Syria? The strategic interests that drive Israeli strikes in Syria are deeply rooted in the complex geopolitical landscape of the region. Since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, the conflict has drawn in numerous regional and global actors, creating a battleground for competing interests. One of the primary concerns for Israel is the growing Iranian influence in Syria. Iran, a long-standing adversary of Israel, has used the chaos of Syria’s civil war to expand its presence through both direct military involvement and its support of proxy groups, most notably Hezbollah. This includes the construction of weapons depots, military bases, and missile systems aimed at Israel. Israel has long viewed a permanent Iranian military foothold in Syria as a direct threat to its security. In addition to Iran's growing presence, Syria has become a base of operations for Hezbollah, which has fought alongside Syrian g...