Israel Intensifies Strikes in Syria Amid Rising Regional Tensions
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Israel conducted a series of airstrikes on the Syrian capital, Damascus, late Thursday, targeting what it claimed were military positions linked to Iran-backed groups. The attack marks an escalation in the ongoing Israeli military campaign against perceived threats emanating from Syrian territory.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reaffirmed his country’s stance, warning that Israel would not tolerate any activities by armed factions near its borders. “Wherever threats against Israel emerge, our air force will be present to eliminate them,” Gallant said in a statement.
Local sources reported that the airstrikes targeted a facility associated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in central Damascus, resulting in multiple casualties. The Syrian government has yet to release an official casualty count, but preliminary reports indicate several fatalities, including both militants and civilians.
This latest strike is part of a broader pattern of Israeli military operations in Syria, which have intensified since the collapse of the Assad government and the emergence of new power dynamics in the region. Over the past decade, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes across Syria, primarily targeting Iranian-backed militias, weapons depots, and logistical hubs.
Following the latest attack, Syrian air defenses were activated, but Israeli fighter jets reportedly evaded interception. Footage circulating on social media showed explosions lighting up the night sky over Damascus, with debris falling in residential areas.
The Israeli military maintains that these operations are necessary to prevent Iran and its affiliated groups from establishing a foothold along Syria’s southern border. Meanwhile, Damascus has repeatedly condemned the strikes, calling them violations of Syrian sovereignty and an attempt to destabilize the region further.
As tensions rise in Syria, the broader geopolitical landscape continues to shift. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control vast territories in the country’s northeast, have voiced concerns over increasing instability in Syria and its implications for regional security.
Officials within the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) argue that continued foreign military interventions, coupled with internal conflicts, are exacerbating the country’s fragmentation.
As Israel continues its military campaign in Syria, questions remain about the long-term consequences for regional stability. The SDF and AANES have consistently advocated for a diplomatic resolution to Syria’s conflicts, warning that further military escalations risk deepening the country’s divisions.
With Israeli airstrikes showing no sign of slowing, and Syria’s internal factions struggling for influence, the conflict remains a focal point of international concern.