Watan-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has followed through on his threat, as the Israeli military launched intense airstrikes on multiple locations in Syria, targeting sites in Damascus and rural Daraa.
The Israeli escalation came as a direct response to statements made by Syria’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, during the National Dialogue Conference. Al-Sharaa had called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Syrian territories, reaffirming the country’s unity and rejecting any attempts to partition it.
Israeli fighter jets flew at low altitudes over Damascus before striking Syrian Ministry of Defense military sites in Al-Kiswah, a suburb of the capital. They also targeted Tal Al-Hara in western rural Daraa. Meanwhile, Israeli forces began moving near the administrative border between Daraa and Quneitra, signaling an attempt to impose a new reality in southern Syria.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz commented on the attack, stating that these airstrikes were “clear messages” directed at the Syrian government, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and any other party that could pose a threat to Israel from southern Syria. He added that Tel Aviv would not allow any hostile military presence near its borders and would continue working to ensure that these areas remain “demilitarized” or under its direct influence.
The strikes sparked widespread anger in Syria, particularly in Damascus and southern cities, where protests erupted condemning the Israeli aggression and calling for retaliation. Demonstrators chanted against the occupation and directed messages at Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of HTS, urging a military response against Tel Aviv.
This escalation presents a real test for Syria’s new leadership. Will Al-Sharaa limit his response to diplomatic condemnation, as was the case in the past? Or will his government pursue a military escalation that alters the rules of engagement with Israel? The question remains open as Israel continues to enforce its agenda through force while rejecting any demands for withdrawal from occupied Syrian territories.
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