Israel Intensifies Syria Attacks, but HTS Leader Says Doesn’t Want Conflict
Israel Unleashes Wave of Airstrikes on Syria as New Regime Seeks Stability
Damascus, Syria - A barrage of Israeli airstrikes has pounded military and ammunition sites across Syria, marking a significant escalation in tensions just weeks after the fall of the assad regime. The strikes,numbering over 60 in the past 12 hours alone,have targeted key areas including Damascus and its outskirts,according to Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar reporting from the Syrian capital.
“We have heard several loud explosions, which have been almost a routine here,” Serdar said, confirming that ammunition depots and air defense systems had been struck in a district of Damascus. “This has been part of the Israeli strategy since the fall of the al-Assad regime to leave the country without air defenses against its attacks,” he added.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Israel launched 61 missiles at Syrian military sites in less then five hours overnight, striking targets in Homs, Deraa, Suwayda, and the Qalamoun mountains near Damascus, as well as air defenses at the Hama airport.
The intensified Israeli military action comes as the new Syrian governance, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, seeks to stabilize the war-torn nation. Al-Sharaa,speaking to journalists in Damascus,condemned the Israeli actions as a “clear violation” but emphasized that Syria was not in a position to engage in a new conflict.
“The Israelis have clearly crossed the disengagement line in Syria, which threatens a new unjustified escalation in the region,” al-Sharaa said. “Despite the violation, the general exhaustion in Syria after years of war and conflict does not allow us to enter new conflicts. The priority at this stage is reconstruction and stability.”
Al-Sharaa also pledged to disband all Syrian factions,declaring that “no weapons will exist outside the authority of the Syrian state.”
Meanwhile, the United States has confirmed contact with HTS, despite designating the group as a “terrorist” association in 2018. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the contact during talks with Arab diplomats and Turkish officials in Jordan, were they called for a Syrian-led transition to a more inclusive government.
rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in peace and security at Durham University, highlighted a growing “disconnect” between Israel and the US regarding the situation in syria. “They don’t know about the new regime and who is on the other side,” Pinfold told Al Jazeera. “The Israelis are erring on the side of caution here. The problem is they also escalate.”
The fact that Syria’s new rulers are signaling a desire to avoid conflict with Israel, Pinfold noted, represents a “huge change” given Syria’s decades-long history of confrontation with the Jewish state.
The situation in Syria remains volatile,with the future of the country hanging in the balance. The international community is closely watching as the new administration attempts to navigate the complex challenges of rebuilding a nation ravaged by years of war.
A New regime, Old Tensions: Israel Ramps Up Airstrikes in Syria
Damascus, Syria – A wave of Israeli airstrikes has jolted war-torn Syria, targeting military assets and ammunition depots across the country, raising concerns about a potential escalation in regional tensions.
Over 60 missiles rained down on Syrian targets in the past 12 hours alone, according to reports from Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar on the ground in Damascus. Key areas including Damascus and its outskirts, as well as Homs, Deraa, Suwayda, and the Qalamoun mountains, have reportedly been hit.
While Israel has yet to officially comment on the airstrikes, sources suggest a targeted campaign against Syria’s dwindling air defense systems, a strategy seen since the fall of the Assad regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed 61 missiles hitting Syrian military sites in less than five hours overnight.
This aggressive escalation coincides with the rise of a new Syrian management, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. Addressing journalists in Damascus, al-Sharaa condemned the Israeli actions as a “clear violation,” but emphasized Syria’s current focus on reconstruction and stability.
“Despite the violation, the general exhaustion in Syria after years of war and conflict does not allow us to enter new conflicts,” al-Sharaa asserted.
Adding another layer of complexity, the United States has confirmed direct contact with HTS, despite officially designating the group as a “terrorist” institution in 2018. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged this contact during talks in Jordan, where a Syrian-led transition to a more inclusive government was discussed.
Providing expert insight, Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in peace and security at Durham University, highlighted a disconcerting “disconnect” between Israel and the US regarding the evolving situation in Syria.
“They don’t know about the new regime and who is on the other side,” Pinfold told Al Jazeera. “The Israelis are erring on the side of caution here. The problem is they also escalate.”
Pinfold also noted the significance of Syria’s new leadership signaling a desire to avoid conflict with Israel, marking a drastic shift from the history of enduring hostility.
As Syria navigates this period of political and social transition, the shadow of international conflict looms large. The international community watches with bated breath as the fragile balance of power in the region teeters on the brink.