Six Syrian soldiers were killed near Damascus in a series of Israeli strikes, according to Syria’s government. The attacks, carried out earlier this week, included air raids and what was described as an airborne landing at a former military site.
Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the actions as a “violation of sovereignty and international law.” However, Israel did not officially comment on the strikes. Instead, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on social media that Israeli forces were operating “day and night in all combat zones for the security of Israel.”
Details of the Operation
According to Syrian state media (SANA), the first strike on Tuesday occurred while troops were examining “surveillance and eavesdropping devices” during a field tour near al-Kiswah. The following day, further air raids hit areas close to the Damascus International Fair, where Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa was attending an event.
The reported airborne landing that followed remains unclear. SANA described multiple aircraft raids followed by an airdrop, while Al Jazeera quoted sources saying Israeli forces used dozens of soldiers with search equipment who stayed for more than two hours. Other Syrian military officials confirmed the landing but offered no details beyond the withdrawal.
Escalating Strikes Across Syria
Since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel has ramped up military operations in Syria, saying its goal is to prevent weapons from reaching extremist groups.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that Israel has conducted 95 attacks in 2025 alone—85 air strikes and 10 ground operations.
Just last month, Israel bombed Syrian forces in the southern city of Suweida during sectarian clashes. Israel claimed the weapons and fighters would be used against the Druze community, which also has a population inside Israel. Syria condemned those strikes, saying they killed soldiers and civilians.
Broader Implications
The latest attacks come as Israel and Syria hold deconfliction talks, aimed at preventing direct conflict while both nations remain entangled in wider regional unrest.
For Syria, the strikes highlight its vulnerability as it grapples with internal instability and ongoing sectarian clashes. For Israel, the operations underscore a strategy of proactive military action—even across borders—intended to safeguard its security.
As tensions rise, analysts warn that each new strike risks pulling the region into deeper conflict, with both Druze and other minority populations caught in the middle of a volatile battleground.
