Israel Escalates Airstrikes on Syria as Al-Shara Calls for State Reconstruction

Damascus, Dec 15 (NationPress) Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has acknowledged that the Lebanese militant group has momentarily lost its arms supply route through Syria due to the recent downfall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

In his first televised speech since the collapse of Assad's government, Qassem recognized the disruption, referring to it as a "minor detail" within the larger context of Hezbollah's operations, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

He mentioned that the supply route could potentially be reestablished once a new government is formed, or alternatively, Hezbollah might explore other routes.

Israel has ramped up its airstrikes on Syrian military installations, executing 24 aerial assaults in the Damascus countryside on Saturday, according to a war monitoring organization.

The attacks reportedly targeted tunnel systems embedded in the mountains of the affected area, as noted by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

This latest wave of strikes brings the cumulative total of Israeli air operations in Syrian territory to 426 since the Syrian government’s collapse on December 8. These military actions have extended across 13 provinces in Syria, according to the observatory.

Ahmad al-Shara, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), recognized on Saturday the extensive devastation in the Syrian capital and surrounding regions following the fall of Assad's regime.

In a discussion with Syria TV, al-Shara stated that Syria is now at a pivotal moment, necessitating strategic, data-driven approaches and the establishment of a rule-of-law state to achieve enduring stability.

Al-Shara, who spearheaded the military operation that led to the downfall of al-Assad's government, stressed the importance of governing with a state-oriented perspective. He advocated for the development of institutions grounded in law and justice.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan convened on Saturday to discuss recent developments in Gaza and Syria, as stated by the Egyptian presidency.

The meeting assessed efforts from both sides aimed at achieving a ceasefire and facilitating the exchange of captives in the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict. Al-Sisi highlighted the critical need for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, especially with winter looming.

The two parties also deliberated on the execution and maintenance of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon as a vital component of regional stability efforts.

Qatar Charity, a Doha-based humanitarian organization, has sent a 40-truck humanitarian aid convoy to Syria to assist those impacted by the ongoing crisis, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported on Saturday.

This initiative aims to address urgent necessities as severe winter conditions exacerbate the difficulties faced by vulnerable populations, according to the report.

The aid package comprises flour for bakeries and families, food baskets containing essential items, winter clothing kits, personal hygiene kits, non-food item kits, medical supplies, and consumables. The total cost of the convoy's support is estimated at 4.5 million Qatari riyals (approximately $1.24 million), according to the QNA.