Escalating Tensions: Israel Strikes Southern Syria Amidst Civilian Casualties
On Thursday night, the Israeli army escalated its attacks against Syrian territory, a move that follows deadly strikes from the previous day in Daraa province, known as the cradle of the Syrian uprising of 2011. As officials reported, at least nine individuals have lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in an incident attributed to Israeli forces in southern Syria. This information was confirmed by official sources on Thursday.
Reports from the Daraa Administration indicated that all of the deceased were civilians. The attacks occurred in an area situated between the towns of Nawa and Tasil, marking a significant advance for the Israeli military, which has breached this territory for the first time.
During a ceremony celebrating the upcoming Jewish Passover, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated Israel's stance on Syria, asserting that the country will not permit Syria to pose a threat to its settlements and security interests. He emphasized this message in a statement regarding the bombings that targeted Syrian infrastructure on Wednesday, framing it as a warning for future actions: "We will not allow the security of the State of Israel to be put at risk."
Katz elaborated on the Israeli Defense Forces’ commitment to maintaining a presence at key points such as Mount Hermon, as well as in security and buffer zones aimed at protecting communities in the Golan Heights and Galilee from potential threats.
The defense minister particularly directed a warning to Syrian official Ahmed Al Sharaa, stating, "If you allow hostile forces to Israel to enter Syria and endanger Israeli security interests, you will pay a very high price."
The Israeli military has been actively deployed in the demilitarized zone along its border with Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime last December. In a notable expansion of military operations, they have advanced further north into Syrian territory, reaching a dam near Nawa for the first time.
The recent Israeli assault has incited anger among local populations, leading to a surge of public mobilization. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that local mosques issued calls for resistance in light of the increase in Israeli military vehicles in the area.
In a statement released by the Israeli army, they confirmed that their forces, based in the occupied Golan Heights, had operated during the night in the Daraa region and had targeted armed men who allegedly fired upon them.
This military engagement coincided with a series of airstrikes conducted by Israeli fighter jets, which targeted five different locations across Syria within approximately 30 minutes. Notably, the strikes included attacks near Damascus, as well as on the military airport in Hama, which has reportedly sustained extensive damage due to the assault according to official communications from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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