[Source/Observer Network Chen Sijia] According to a June 17 report by Middle East Eye, as Syria's transitional government allowed Israel to use its airspace for attacks on Iran, an increasing number of Syrians began to criticize the transitional government. Critics called for the transitional government to take action to protect its airspace and borders and to safeguard national interests through diplomatic efforts.

The report stated that after Israel launched a large-scale air strike against Iran on the 13th, continuous clashes occurred between the two countries. Israeli warplanes frequently entered Syrian and Iraqi airspace to strike targets within Iran. Iraq has filed a complaint with the United Nations Security Council condemning Israel's violation of its airspace, but the Syrian transitional government has made no comments or official condemnations regarding this issue.

Syrian residents said they can see Israeli military aircraft flying over Syrian territory every day and hear the explosions when Iranian drones and missiles are intercepted in Syrian airspace. Especially in the Quneitra and Daraa provinces near the Golan Heights in southern Syria, large amounts of debris have fallen to the ground.

Imad al-Basiri, an activist from Daraa Province, told Middle East Eye that drone and missile debris falling into residential areas caused widespread panic. "People are very tense; the explosions are terrifying. The crashed drones have damaged houses and caused fires in farmland," he said.

June 18, Damascus, Syria, Iranian missiles fly over Syrian airspace, Visual China

Basiri pointed out that the violation of Syrian airspace has been met with silence from the transitional government. The recent deployment of Syrian security forces 9 kilometers away from the Israeli border left ordinary Syrians feeling helpless. He stated that residents in Quneitra and Daraa need protection from the new government. "Syria's airspace and borders are completely defenseless. We urge the government to control the borders."

Samar Abu Raslan, an architect from Sweida in southern Syria, expressed shock at the silence of the Syrian transitional government. "Syria seems weak and powerless. As Syrian citizens, we hope our skies, land, and waters are free from all forms of aggression and violations."

Lina, a journalist from Damascus, criticized that the Syrian government is even unwilling to issue a lukewarm statement, unwilling to "reserve the right to respond" like the previous Assad government. She pointed out that although Syria is not allied with either Israel or Iran, the silence of Damascus indicates that it is clearly taking sides in this conflict.

Social media images show an Israeli fighter jet refueling over Syrian airspace

Meanwhile, Israeli ground forces continue to operate on Syrian territory. "Middle East Eye" reported that Israeli patrols crossed the border again last week, conducting dozens of arbitrary arrests and killing one Syrian.

The Syrian transitional government's Foreign Ministry condemned this behavior on June 12, but Fadel Abdul Ghany, director of the Britain-based Syrian Network for Human Rights, believed that the Syrian government should file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council according to the UN Charter.

Abdul Ghany said: "The Syrian government must strengthen its diplomatic efforts. It should oppose the militarization of its airspace, request the establishment of humanitarian air corridors, and refuse to allow its airspace to be used for any hostile actions to maintain neutrality." He stated that the measures taken by the Syrian government are "completely insufficient," and they need to closely coordinate with the Arab League and the European Union and formulate a comprehensive strategy to safeguard Syria's national interests.

The New York Times analyzed that after Israel's air strikes on Iran, Syria's decision to remain silent may be to seek support from Western countries. Analysts believe that President Ahmed Shara of Syria's transitional government may want to use this opportunity to prove to the West that the new Syrian government is no longer part of Iran's "resistance axis."

Ibrahim al-Assil, a senior researcher at the Middle East Institute, said: "Syria's silence sends a strong signal to Israel and the United States that Syria is no longer part of the resistance axis, and Syrian land will not be used by any force to attack Israel. The new government has promised this, and now they are proving it."

Reuters pointed out that since the third Middle East War in 1967, Israel has occupied Syria's Golan Heights. After the collapse of the Assad government in December last year, Israel expanded its military operations in Syria, occupying more land and launching large-scale air strikes against military infrastructure within Syria, intensifying tensions in the Middle East.

However, five informed sources told Reuters on May 27 that Syria and Israel are holding direct contacts. Both sides have recently held face-to-face meetings to try to ease tensions. Two of the sources said that the current focus of the talks is on common security, including preventing conflicts and reducing Israeli invasions, but the talks may pave the way for a "broader political understanding."

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