Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Israel has executed a series of significant airstrikes across Syria, with its forces making notable advances that have brought them within 25 kilometers (approximately 15 miles) of the Syrian capital, as reported by a Syrian opposition war monitoring group.
Witnesses in Damascus reported hearing substantial bombing throughout the night and into Tuesday, with social media platforms revealing images of destroyed military equipment, including missile launchers, helicopters, and aircraft.
At this time, there has been no public response from the insurgent groups, primarily Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which currently exert control over the capital.
Prior to these airstrikes, Israel had taken control of an area measuring approximately 400 square kilometers (about 155 square miles) within Syrian territory. This territory was established as a buffer zone following the 1973 Middle East war, with Israel asserting that this action aims to forestall potential threats arising from the recent displacement of President Bashar Assad.
Israeli officials have indicated that their military operations are particularly focused on suspected locations of chemical weapons and heavy artillery to ensure these assets do not fall into the hands of radical groups. Historically, Israel tends to maintain a policy of neither confirming nor denying specific military actions.
Israel’s pattern of territorial acquisition during conflicts is well-documented; it has held onto the Golan Heights since taking it from Syria during the 1967 war and has formally annexed it—a move not widely recognized, except by the United States.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has tracked the ongoing civil conflict since its onset nearly 14 years ago, Israel has conducted over 300 airstrikes in Syria since the recent upheaval leading to the displacement of Assad’s regime.
Reports also indicate that Israeli forces are moving along the Syrian border with Lebanon, although independent verification of these developments remains elusive.
An Israeli military representative stated that the focus remains on securing a buffer zone within Syria, along with several strategically significant points, although details were not disclosed. This official referred to broader speculation regarding a large-scale invasion as misinformation.
Responses from regional powers such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been critical, condemning Israel’s actions as taking advantage of Syria’s chaotic situation and as violations of international law.
In a recent statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry articulated concerns over Israeli aggression in the Golan Heights and in Syrian territory, asserting that these acts contravene international legal standards and further undermine Syria’s prospects for stability and territorial integrity.
Despite ongoing talks between Saudi Arabia and the United States regarding a possible normalization of relations with Israel—which may include defense agreements, support for a civilian nuclear initiative, and pathways to Palestinian statehood—Saudi Arabia’s leadership has consistently criticized Israel’s military actions, especially in Gaza, where the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to escalate intensely. Last month, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman characterized Israeli conduct in Gaza as akin to genocide, a claim that Israel has firmly rejected.
___
For continued updates and insights on the situation in Syria, visit https://apnews.com/hub/syria.
Source
www.yahoo.com