Undoubtedly, the most deadly attack carried out by Israel on Aleppo in Syria yesterday, Friday, since the onset of its war on Gaza, raised concerns about the transformation of the conflict in the Middle East into a comprehensive war, awakening many fears. The Israeli strikes were described as the most intense on Syria in three years, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrian political analyst Alaa Al-Asfari viewed the escalation of Israeli strikes on Syria as an indication that Israel "wants to drag the entire region into a comprehensive war, and it seems we are nearing the zero hour." He also added, "The region is on the brink of a major volcano, and the repetition of these operations will lead to a comprehensive war in the region, and everyone is well-prepared for it," as reported by the Arab World News Agency (AWP) on Saturday.
For his part, military and political analyst Kamal stated that the attacks occurring on Syrian territory cannot be separated from what is happening in the region as a whole. He added, "The fronts are interconnected and linked to a single central issue that has struck the foundations of security and stability in the entire region, which is the issue of Israeli occupation, the main reason for all wars and destruction in the Arab region."
Additionally, he believed that "the timing of this significant Israeli aggression is related to the theater of military operations sweeping the entire region and threatening to expand its scope on several fronts, which is an Israeli demand and desire to involve Syria in Israel's war that has reached a deadlock regarding Gaza. Perhaps Lebanon is the next target."
The political analyst clarified that the measure of the development and expansion of military operations depends on the Israeli field position and its ability to shift the battle from Gaza to Lebanon or Syria. He further noted, "In contrast, the decision lies with what is called the Axis of Resistance (armed factions supported by Iran), whether it will expand the scope of deterrence and targeting or remain within the established rules over the past months." He considered that Arab countries and Syria’s allies do not want its expansion, contrary to Israel's intentions to drag the United States into a regional war that might destroy the entire area, as he stated.
He also pointed out that "if there are no painful responses or strikes against Israel, it is certain that there will be further strikes extending to vital areas and infrastructure, whether for the Syrian state or even for the vital economic bases and facilities allied with the Iranians or Hezbollah." Furthermore, he observed that "Israel's persistence and increased intensity of its attacks on Syrian territory may push Syria’s allies to retaliate."
It is worth noting that 44 people were killed in the Israeli raids targeting sites near Aleppo International Airport yesterday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, including seven members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group, 36 Syrian forces, and one member of the Iranian-backed armed factions. Meanwhile, the Syrian Ministry of Defense merely stated that the Israeli bombardment resulted in the deaths of civilians and military personnel.
