Seems to me Israel's on some kind of quest to conquer the world.
You’ve got to admit, that seems like a significant exaggeration. Israel doesn’t have the capability to conquer the world, or even the entire Middle East. What it does have is the capacity to neutralize threats close to home – pretty much on its doorstep. Military assets that could fall into the wrong hands and endanger its security.
Syria, post-Assad, remains highly unstable. From what I understand, the current leading faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is classified as a terrorist group by the US and EU, with roots linked to Al-Qaeda. There are still other groups in Syria, like those backed by Iran or connected to Hezbollah, further complicating Syria. It’s unclear whether HTS has consolidated control over Syria’s military assets, including reported chemical weapons. I would say that the uncertainty in Syria makes it predictable that Israel would take action to mitigate risks on its doorstep.
This reminds me of 2021 when the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan. Initially, they presented a moderate face, and other nations were liking what they were hearing, but hardliners soon took over, leading to retribution and authoritarianism, significant restrictions. A similar scenario could unfold in Syria. It might not be an immediate concern, but it could soon become a significant problem for Israel. Preemptively neutralising threats in the form of military installations seems like a logical move under these circumstances. It doesn’t seem like land grab to me, or at least not based on what is being reported at the moment.
I think back to when Britain faced a situation after the fall of France in WWII. Concerned about the French Navy falling into Nazi hands. Britain then seized French vessels, killing a couple of French servicemen in the process. Then soon after when firing upon the French Navy at Mers-el-Kébir to Neutralise them, and killing almost 1,300 french servicemen in the process – and we were allies. It was a drastic and controversial decision, but one that Britain deemed necessary for its own survival. Israel’s actions, although not the same, seem to stem from similar fears, and those consequences for its national security.
When your back is to the wall, some countries feel they have to do drastic things.