Israeli Airstrike in Syria Targets Military Site Near Damascus Amid Rising Tensions
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on a military site near the town of al-Kiswah, south of Damascus, early Saturday morning, according to local sources and media reports.
The strike targeted Jabal al-Mani, an area known for housing military infrastructure, triggering a large explosion that was heard across al-Kiswah, with plumes of smoke rising from the impact site.
Repeated Strikes on a Strategic Site
Jabal al-Mani has been struck multiple times in recent years due to its strategic importance. The site previously hosted Scud missiles and other long-range weaponry under the now-deposed Syrian government. Israeli authorities have consistently viewed such military installations as a security threat.
While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially commented on the strike, it aligns with previous attacks aimed at preventing the rearmament of Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups operating in Syria.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense has yet to release a statement regarding casualties or material damage from the attack.
Israeli Operations Escalate in Southern Syria
This latest airstrike comes amid heightened Israeli military activity along the Syrian border. On Tuesday, Israeli forces entered the village of al-Malaqah, conducting house-to-house searches with armored vehicles in what local residents described as an “unauthorized military operation.”
Israel has intensified its strikes on Syria in recent months, citing security concerns over Iranian influence and weapons transfers to Hezbollah. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reports that Israeli airstrikes have targeted over a dozen military sites across Syria since the beginning of the year.
Regional Implications and Reactions
The airstrike underscores the ongoing volatility in the region, with Syria’s post-war transition still fragile following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and international observers have warned that continued military escalations risk further destabilization.
Israel has long maintained that its strikes are preemptive measures to counter threats posed by Iranian-backed militias operating in Syria. However, Damascus and Tehran have repeatedly condemned these attacks as violations of Syrian sovereignty and international law.
With tensions persisting, analysts caution that further Israeli operations in Syria could spark broader regional confrontations, drawing in multiple actors, including Iran, Hezbollah, and the remnants of Syrian military factions.