Israel's attacks on Syrian ground serve two purposes, observers say. Its alleged protection of minorities helps its own security interests and efforts to forge ties with regional allies.

In years past, Israel might have been content to stop there. But its current leaders favour an unbridled assertion of power, some for pragmatic reasons, others for ideological ones. They are seizing ...

Even after signing the 1974 armistice agreement, Syria aligned itself with Iran and Hezbollah, continuing its aggression ...