Some senior U.S. officials believe Israel’s strike on Syria may have been partly motivated by Israel’s upcoming October election.

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Some senior U.S. officials believe Israel’s strike on Syria may have been partly motivated by Israel’s upcoming October election. They argue that Syria had been seeking to de-escalate tensions and establish a U.S.-backed coordination mechanism with Israel, but Israel declined to implement it and instead increased military incursions into southern Syria. U.S. officials worry this is pushing Damascus toward a more confrontational stance. The Trump administration has urged Syria to show restra