Israel Launches Airstrikes Near Syria’s Tartous
Israeli forces have carried out airstrikes near Syria’s Mediterranean port city of Tartous, Syrian state media reported on Monday.
Targeted Military Site
According to an Israeli military statement, the strikes targeted a military facility in Qardaha, the hometown of deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Tartous. The site reportedly housed weapons linked to the former Syrian regime.
Syrian Response and Ongoing Tensions
Syria’s state news agency, SANA, confirmed the attacks, stating that Israeli aircraft carried out the strikes but reported no casualties. Civil defense teams were dispatched to assess the damage and identify targets.
Following Assad’s removal in December, Israel has intensified airstrikes on Syrian military assets, aiming to prevent them from falling into hostile hands. Last Tuesday, Israel also targeted military sites in southern Syria after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the region’s demilitarization.
Israeli Military Presence in Syria
Israel has moved troops into a U.N.-monitored demilitarized zone within Syria, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two countries. Additionally, Israeli forces have taken control of areas beyond the buffer zone, including Mount Hermon, and have conducted multiple air raids on Syrian military sites.
International Reactions
At Syria’s recent national dialogue conference, participants condemned Israel’s actions, calling on the international community to intervene. They denounced Israel’s military incursions and accused it of attempting to stoke sectarian tensions, particularly regarding Syria’s Druze minority in the south.
Israel’s military operations in Syria continue to raise concerns over escalating regional tensions as both sides remain at odds over control and security in the region.