More killings/Israeli Airstrikes Claim Nine Lives in Syria Amid Rising Tensions

Nine people have been killed in southern Syria following an Israeli bombardment, which occurred during an Israeli military incursion into Syrian territory. The local Syrian government and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deaths, which occurred as the Israeli army conducted an operation in the region. According to the Israeli military, the raid was a response to gunfire from militants, but local sources say the deaths were the result of the Israeli forces’ unprovoked advance into the area.

In a statement posted to Telegram, the Syrian government described the incident as the “occupation forces advancing for the first time to this depth,” suggesting a significant military escalation by Israel. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the victims were local gunmen who had attempted to defend their territory after local mosques reportedly called for jihad against the Israeli forces.

The Israeli military, however, framed the operation as a preemptive strike against “terrorist infrastructure,” claiming that they were targeting weapons caches and militants in the Tasil area, near Nawa. An Israeli spokesperson stated that the forces responded to gunfire by eliminating “several armed terrorists,” both on the ground and from the air. No Israeli soldiers were reported injured.

This attack is part of an ongoing military campaign that has seen Israel carry out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since late last year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the complete demilitarization of southern Syria, insisting that the presence of militant forces near Israeli borders poses a serious security threat. In December, Israeli forces entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, a move that has drawn condemnation.

As tensions between the two nations escalate, Israel continues to justify its actions by claiming it must act against any military threat in Syria. However, critics argue that such operations may further fuel violence and destabilize the region.