Why is Israel bombarding Syria as rebels move to form new govt?

Since the Syrian rebels seized Damascus, Israeli jets have struck targets across the country. The reason Israel is claiming behind the airstrikes is to prevent weapons from falling "into the hands of extremists". 

Israel warplanes had struck 'Barzeh Scientific Research Centre', and the Latakia military port on Monday destroying army warehouses and naval vessels. 

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According to Israel, if Syria's "chemical weapons infrastructure", missiles and combat aircraft fall into the wrong hands it could cause catastrophic effects. 

There were also reports that Israeli forces penetrated into the Syrian territory beyond the buffer zone with Israeli-occupied Golan Heights after sources said the incursion had extended to within 25 km of the capital Damascus. 

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However, Israel denied the reports and clarified that the incursion was a temporary measure to ensure border security. "Troops had not left the demilitarised zone," said an Israeli military spokesperson. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that Israel would use all the tools it had to ensure its security following Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's fall. 

Meanwhile, Qatar has expressed its displeasure with Israel seeking to take advantage of the situation in Syria. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said it is "unacceptable". Apart from Qatar, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia condemned the Israeli incursion. 

Israel has violated Syria's sovereignty, added Qatar. It added that there should not be any foreign interference in Syria. 

Also, life is slowly returning back to normal in Damascus with banks, and shops opening for the first time since the rebels took over the capital city. Traffic returned to the roads and construction workers were back at work in the city. 

The rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani, met with Jalali and Vice President Faisal Mekdad on Monday and held a discussion on forming the transitional government. 

Though Golani's group Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS) claims no longer affiliation with Al Qaeda and Islamic State, many foreign countries including the United States are sceptical. 

The UN envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, told a briefing in Geneva that a transitional government for Syria needed to be as inclusive as possible, and should welcome HTS despite its past."It is now nine years since that resolution was adopted," he said.  "The reality is so far that HTS and also the other armed groups have been sending good messages to the Syrian people... of unity, of inclusiveness,” he added.