The risk of Syria becoming the stage for a direct conflict between Turkey and Israel must be seriously addressed, an Israeli government commission has warned. Turkey could even come to pose a greater threat to Israel via its presence in Syria than Iran did through its alliance with the Bashar al-Assad regime that fell a month ago,

"We see a lot of airflights coming in to Damascus, and a lot of meetings with high officials," says Israeli Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal during a press conference in Jerusalem as he warns the international community about Syria's new authorities and their change in appearance that "disguise the real essence of this group.

"Our problem is not with Israel. We don't want to meddle in anything that will threaten Israel's security," Damascus Governor Maher Marwan tells NPR. Syria and Israel have never had diplomatic ties.

An Israeli airstrike in the outskirts of Damascus on Sunday killed 11 people, according to a war monitor, as Israel continues to target Syrian weapons and military infrastructure even after the ouster of Syrian leader Bashar Assad.

IDF kills PIJ commander • IDF strikes 100 Hamas targets • Brazil investigating IDF soldier over 'war crimes' • First recruits enlist in new IDF haredi combat brigade

Businessman Kamel Amin Thaabet arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus in 1962. He threw lavish parties, became part of the city's social elite and quickly gained access to the country's most powerful men.

Israel’s continued military operations in Syria, which it said on Sunday are intended to “strengthen the defense of Israel’s citizens,” have drawn accusations from the United Nations and some member states that Israel is violating a decades-long cease-fire by sending its troops within and beyond a buffer zone between the countries.

Drone said to fire missiles at weapons warehouse causing massive blast; up to 11 reportedly killed; no comment from IDF

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says blasts in Kisweh, south of Damascus, may be due to an Israeli airstrike

Leader of tiny Syrian community visits destroyed Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue in capital's Jobar neighborhood, recounts years of site being off-limits during civil war

Israeli strikes reported in southern Lebanon • IDF finds weapons, explosives in pharmacy in southern Lebanon • Sirens sound across central Israel following Houthi missile launch

The attacks on Syrian military infrastructure might be considered to be understandable, but it’s much harder to rationalize the IDF’s activities near the Golan Heights