Neutrality or benefit? Why Syria allowed Israel to strike Iran from its airspace

“Every blow to Iran is pure benefit to al-Sharaa’s regime.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

When Israel began Operation Rising Lion on June 13, questions arose concerning why Syria allowed Israel to use its airspace for the operations.

In addition, Syria remained silent during the operation and did not condemn Israeli strikes even though it has had an alliance with Iran.

In an interview with Ma’ariv, University of Haifa Professor Amatzia Baram said that, first of all, Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa did not wish to contend with Israel’s air force, and second, he realized that the strikes on Iran could benefit Syria.

“If I were in al-Sharaa’s place, I would tell my people that even if I could make it difficult for the Israeli Air Force, I have no interest in doing so,” Baram said, explaining the new Syrian thinking. “I have an interest in the Israelis attacking Iran as much as possible.”

Israel’s weakening of Iran through its strikes means that Damascus would benefit from the diminishment of its rival.

“Every blow to Iran is pure benefit to al-Sharaa’s regime,” Baram continued, adding that Syria would not have confronted Israel even if it could have done so.

Political analyst Samir Abdullah, a professor of international relations at Damascus University, told The Media Line that Syria was not in a position to fight with Israel. “Syria’s fragile economy and its deteriorated military capacity after more than a decade of civil war do not allow it to engage in any new political or military adventure, regardless of pressure from allies,” he said.

Although Syria did not want to abandon its alliance with Iran, it remained neutral, apparently influenced by Russia to avoid becoming involved.

“Moscow has warned Damascus against overt involvement or allowing any party to openly use its territory against Israel, as this could lead to uncontrollable escalation and put Russia’s own military presence at risk,” a Western diplomatic source in Beirut, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Media Line.

In addition, Russia has a substantial military presence at the Hmeimim air base in Syria’s Latakia province and wants to protect its interests by keeping Syria out of the fray.