The Israeli military conducted strikes on sites in southern Syria on Tuesday, following new demands from the Syrian leadership for Israel to withdraw from territory it has occupied since the fall of the Assad regime. These attacks targeted military installations and weapons storage facilities, which the Israeli military stated posed a threat to Israeli citizens.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the strikes were part of a new policy aimed at maintaining a “demilitarized southern Syria”. Any attempts by Syrian forces or militant groups to establish a presence in what Israel considers its “security zone” in the region will be met with force.

The policy of “complete demilitarization” of southern Syria, as declared by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has drawn criticism from Syria’s new government, which accused Israel of violating Syria’s sovereignty and breaching a longstanding agreement.

Ahmed al-Shara, Syria’s interim president, presided over a national unity conference to address political and economic issues, which resulted in a statement condemning Israeli incursions and the provocative statements of Netanyahu. Syria’s government called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its aggression.

Since the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad, Israel has continued to strike in Syria, aiming to disrupt the flow of arms and funds from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Israeli forces have struck Syria 16 times this year.

Israel has maintained its presence in border regions, claiming they are necessary for security. However, its escalated declarations about a demilitarized southern Syria have increased tensions in Syria. Demonstrations have been reported in southern provinces in response to Israeli statements and actions.

Syria’s government, under al-Shara, is working on creating a national army to absorb the country’s many militias. But some resist integration and control significant territory and resources, raising concerns that Israeli actions may be intended to sow further divisions and hinder unity in Syria.

The United Nations and certain member states believe Israel is violating a decades-long cease-fire by sending troops into contested regions. Israel has also continued to target Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement in late November following the 2023 Hamas-led attack and Israel’s subsequent conflict with Hezbollah.

Israel and Hamas are nearing the end of the first phase of a cease-fire, with hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel delayed the prisoner release following the freeing of Israeli hostages, pending a commitment from Hamas to release them without “humiliating ceremonies”. The prisoner release is now expected to occur within 24 hours, with Hamas also transferring the bodies of four deceased hostages to Egypt.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/world/middleeast/israel-strikes-syria.html