Israel has launched strikes in southern Syria hours after its leader demanded that the country withdraw from territory it has seized since the fall of the Assad regime. The attacks were aimed at “military targets” and are part of a new policy to ensure a “demilitarized southern Syria.”
The Israeli military said the presence of military assets and forces in the region constitutes a threat to Israeli citizens. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that any attempt by Syrian forces or militant groups to establish a presence in what Israel has deemed its “security zone” will be met with force.
Syria’s new government condemned the policy, saying it was violating the country’s sovereignty and a longstanding agreement. The interim president called for international pressure on Israel to stop the aggression.
This is not the first time Israel has struck in Syria, but it marks an escalation that has heightened tensions within Syria. The Israeli actions have been viewed by some Syrians as an attempt to sow further divisions and prevent national unity.
The United Nations has said that Israel is violating a decades-long cease-fire between Syria and Israel by sending its troops within and beyond the buffer zone.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/world/middleeast/israel-strikes-syria.html