By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM/DAMASCUS (Worthy News) – Israel has confirmed that its warplanes hit targets in southern Syria, including around the capital, Damascus, and there were reports of causalities.
Tuesday’s strikes came as Israel’s government warned it would not allow the new “Syrian regime” or other “terrorist groups” to threaten the Jewish nation.
An independent war monitor said at least two people were killed in Israeli air raids at the “military unit’s headquarters southwest of Damascus,” Syria.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights could not confirm if the dead were civilians or military personnel. Syrian officials confirmed two were killed, adding that several people have been injured in the Israeli strikes.
Israeli planes struck the town of Kisweh about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) south of Damascus, a Syrian security source and Syria TV said.
The security source said a military site in the area was hit without providing further details.
Other sources reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted raids on at least two military sites south of Damascus.
MILITARY VEHICLES TARGETED
Syrian officials also said Israeli airstrikes targeted a group of military vehicles inside the Al-Kiswah area on the outskirts of Damascus.
“Over the past few hours, the IDF struck military targets in southern Syria, including command centers and multiple sites containing weapons,” the Israeli military explained without providing more details.
“The presence of military forces and assets in the southern part of Syria poses a threat to the citizens of Israel. The IDF will continue to operate in order to remove any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel,” it added in a statement monitored by Worthy News.
A series of blasts and the sound of airplanes flying low were heard over the Syrian capital, Damascus, residents of the city and reporters there said.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed that the strikes were to ensure that “Syrian regime forces” or other “terrorist groups” did not infringe on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) security zone in southern Syria.
“The Air Force is currently conducting powerful strikes in southern Syria as part of our new policy of demilitarizing the region. We will not jeopardize the security of our citizens,” he added.
“Any attempt by Syrian regime forces and terrorist organizations to entrench themselves in the [IDF] security zone of southern Syria will be met with fire,” the minister warned.
FIRST ATTACK
Observers said it was the first Israeli attack on the Damascus area since Ahmed al-Sharaa took over Syria in December following the ouster of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
His government and the United Nations have pressured Israel to leave southern Syria.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to adhere to these demands, saying southern Syria must remain demilitarized and its Druze communities be protected.
Addressing a graduation ceremony for military cadet officers in Holon on Sunday, Netanyahu said, “We demand the full demilitarization of southern Syria; we will not tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria.”
An estimated 700,000-800,000 Druze live in Syria, primarily in southwestern areas near Israel and Jordan. They make up around four percent of the Syrian population.
Netanyahu insisted Sunday that “We will not allow the forces of HTS [Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham] or the new Syrian Army to enter the area south of Damascus.”
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is the Turkish-backed Islamist group that toppled Syria’s autocratic President Bashar Assad and took power. Analysts say Israel’s apparent close relationship with the Druze dates back to 1948 when many Druze volunteered for the Israeli army.
Since the establishment of the State of Israel, Druze have been seen showing solidarity with Israel while distancing themselves from Arab and Islamic radicalism, analysts say.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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