Israel intensifies ground offensive alongside airstrikes in Syria
UN envoy condemns Israel’s repeated military assaults in Syria, citing violations of international law
Israel Escalates Military Operations in Syria, Prompting International Condemnation
Syria has accused Israel of seeking to destabilize the country following a surge in military attacks, including airstrikes on key airbases and a deadly ground incursion—the most intense Israeli operation in Syria in recent times.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, Israeli shelling in the southern province of Deraa late Wednesday killed nine people. The ground assault by Israeli forces marked the deepest incursion into Syrian territory since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad. On Thursday, Syria’s Foreign Ministry denounced the attacks as an "unjustified escalation," calling them a "deliberate attempt to destabilize Syria and worsen the suffering of its people."
The Israeli military, however, defended its actions, stating that its forces were responding to gunfire from armed groups during an operation in Tasil, near the city of Nawa. A spokesperson said troops "seized weapons and destroyed terrorist infrastructure" and reaffirmed that Israel "will not tolerate military threats from Syria." Local residents told Reuters that armed locals were killed after attempting to resist Israeli troops, who had entered the area to demolish a former Syrian army outpost.
UN envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen condemned Israel’s "repeated and escalating military actions," warning that they undermine efforts to rebuild a peaceful Syria. He urged Israel to halt the attacks, which he said "could constitute serious violations of international law."
Airstrikes Devastate Strategic Syrian Bases
On Thursday night, Israeli warplanes struck military positions near Damascus, hitting targets in al-Kiswah and al-Muqaylibah, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). While no casualties were immediately reported, the strikes added to a wave of escalating attacks.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Israel had launched some of its most intense air raids on Syria since interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa took power following Assad’s ousting in December. The Syrian Foreign Ministry reported that Israel struck five different locations within a 30-minute period, causing extensive damage, including near-total destruction of the Hama airbase and injuries to both civilians and soldiers.
Israel’s military confirmed that it targeted remaining military assets at airbases in Hama and Homs, as well as military infrastructure in Damascus, where Syrian sources claimed a scientific research facility was hit. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strikes as "a clear message and a warning for the future," asserting that Israel "will not allow its security to be compromised."
Regional Fallout and Diplomatic Tensions
Israel’s military actions have fueled tensions across the region. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Turkiye of attempting to exert control over Syria, Lebanon, and other areas, alleging that Ankara seeks to turn Syria into a Turkish protectorate.
In response, Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry labeled Israel a "strategic destabilizer" that is "spreading chaos and fueling terrorism," calling it "the biggest threat to regional security." The ministry further demanded that Israel abandon its expansionist policies, withdraw from occupied territories, and cease undermining stability efforts in Syria.
Jordan also criticized Israel’s repeated attacks, stating they violate the 1974 disengagement agreement and constitute a "flagrant breach of international law." Saudi Arabia and Qatar similarly condemned Israel’s military campaign.
Israel has been conducting an extensive bombing campaign against Syrian military targets since rebels assumed control of the country. In February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded the full demilitarization of southern Syria and warned that his government would not tolerate the presence of forces from the new administration near Israeli borders.
In December, Netanyahu had already taken steps to enforce this stance, ordering Israeli troops to enter the UN-patrolled buffer zone along the 1974 armistice line in the occupied Golan Heights.
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