Last night, transitioning into February 26th, the Israeli Air Force struck areas in Syria. This was reported by the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry indicated that the strikes were aimed at military targets in the south of the country, including militant headquarters and weapon storage facilities.
“The Israeli Air Force is delivering powerful strikes in the south of Syria as part of our new policy aimed at pacification of the region – and the message is clear: we will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon. Any attempts by the Syrian regime forces and terrorist organizations in the country to establish control in the security zone in southern Syria will be met with gunfire,” says the official spokesperson of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
According to reports from local residents, security sources, and a local Syrian TV channel cited by “Reuters”, on the night transitioning into February 26th, Israel attacked the city of Kisweh, located 20 km south of the Syrian capital Damascus, as well as the Dara province in southern Syria.
Based on local residents, “Reuters” reports that airplanes flying over the city and several explosions were also heard in Damascus itself.
In December 2024, after the fall of Bashar Assad's regime in Syria, Israeli ground forces openly entered Syrian territory for the first time since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, crossing the demilitarized border zone. Syria condemned the entry of Israeli defense forces into its southern region and demanded the withdrawal of these troops.
On February 23rd, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country would not tolerate the presence of the “Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham” group that overthrew Assad or any affiliated forces in southern Syria, demanding the demilitarization of the area.
