Israel Detects Syria Accelerating Rebuild of Air Force IDF Destroyed

Israel's defense establishment has identified an acceleration in Syria's effort to rebuild its air force, about a year and eight months after the IDF declared the force destroyed as the Assad regime collapsed. Syria has begun recruiting new pilots and training on trainer aircraft and helicopters, and in the past day it held a first exercise in northern Syria involving Sukhoi fighter jets. The effort is proceeding under President Ahmad al-Sharaa with backing from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Russia and France. Israeli officials are weighing the effect on the IDF's freedom of action over Syria, and their main concern is Turkish entrenchment that would include air defense systems.