• Israel launched airstrikes in southern Syria, targeting military facilities in Daraa and Rif Dimashq, hours after Syria demanded Israeli withdrawal.
• Israeli PM Netanyahu declared southern Syria a “demilitarized zone,” warning against Syrian military presence south of Damascus.
• Syria’s interim President condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty amid efforts to unify the country post-Assad.
• Israel’s “security zone” policy marks an escalation, with Defense Minister Katz stating Syrian military assets pose a direct threat to Israel.
• Israel’s occupation of the UN-monitored demilitarized zone since 2024 violates the 1974 agreement, raising regional tensions and international scrutiny.

Israel launched a series of airstrikes across southern Syria late Tuesday, just hours after Syria’s new government demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its territory.

The strikes targeted military facilities in the Daraa and Rif Dimashq Governorates, including the town of Kisweh, approximately 20 kilometers south of Damascus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to maintain a military presence in the region, declaring southern Syria a “demilitarized zone” and warning that any Syrian military presence south of Damascus would be met with force.

The airstrikes, which reportedly killed at least two people, came amid growing international scrutiny over Israel’s occupation of parts of southern Syria, including the demilitarized buffer zone established under a 1974 UN agreement. Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Shara condemned the attacks as a “flagrant violation of sovereignty” during a national dialogue conference aimed at unifying the country after the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad.

Israel’s “security zone” policy draws condemnation

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the strikes, stating that the presence of Syrian military assets south of Damascus posed a direct threat to Israeli citizens. “The Air Force is attacking strongly in southern Syria as part of the new policy we have defined of pacifying southern Syria,” Katz said. “Any attempt by the Syrian regime forces and the country’s terrorist organizations to establish themselves in the security zone will be met with fire.”

This “security zone” policy, announced by Netanyahu earlier this week, marks a significant escalation in Israel’s approach to southern Syria. The Israeli leader singled out the Quneitra, Daraa, and Suwayda Governorates, declaring them off-limits to Syrian military forces. However, the inclusion of Rif Dimashq in Tuesday’s strikes raised questions about the scope of Israel’s territorial claims, as Damascus itself lies within this governorate.

Syria’s new government, which has sought to rebuild the country after Assad’s fall, has accused Israel of undermining its sovereignty and complicating efforts to reunify the nation. Qutaiba Idlbi, a Syria expert at the Atlantic Council, noted that the strikes could embolden regional factions to seek external support, further fracturing Syria’s political landscape.

Occupation of the demilitarized zone

Israel’s military presence in southern Syria has been a point of contention since its forces entered the UN-monitored demilitarized zone following Assad’s ouster in December 2024. The move violated the 1974 disengagement agreement, which established the buffer zone to prevent direct conflict between the two nations. Netanyahu has since signaled that Israeli troops will remain in the region for the “foreseeable future,” citing security concerns.

The Israeli military has also targeted sites in Lebanon, striking what it described as Hezbollah weapons facilities. These actions come amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah, which has fired rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas. While a ceasefire agreement was reached in late 2024, Israel has continued to conduct strikes in Lebanon, further complicating regional stability.

Israel’s airstrikes in southern Syria and its occupation of the demilitarized zone underscore the fragile state of the region. With Syria’s new government struggling to assert control and Israel vowing to maintain its military presence, the prospects for peace remain uncertain. As international condemnation grows, the question of whether Israel’s actions will deter threats or deepen divisions looms large. For now, southern Syria remains a flashpoint in a conflict with no end in sight.

Sources for this article include:

News.Antiwar.com

AlJazeera.com

ABCNews.go.com

NYTimes.com