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Israel has escalated its military campaign in Syria, carrying out a sweeping series of airstrikes targeting military installations across the country. For the first time in five decades, Israeli ground troops have advanced into and beyond a demilitarized buffer zone, signaling a significant shift in strategy following the weakening of the Assad regime.
According to the Israeli military, approximately 480 military sites in Syria were hit within the past 48 hours, resulting in the destruction of the majority of the nation’s “strategic weapons stockpiles.” Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Israeli navy also neutralized the Syrian fleet during an overnight operation, which he described as “a major success.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared video footage via Telegram showing strikes on the al-Bayda and Latakia naval ports, where it claimed 15 Syrian vessels were stationed. The military confirmed attacks on anti-aircraft systems, airfields, and weapons manufacturing facilities in key locations, including Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the strikes as a security measure, emphasizing the need to prevent Assad regime weapons from falling into jihadist hands. “We are not interfering in Syria’s internal matters,” Netanyahu stated, “but we will do whatever is necessary to safeguard our security.”
Tensions Rise in Northern Syria Amid Continued Clashes
Meanwhile, northern Syria remains a battleground as clashes persist between Turkish-backed forces and Kurdish factions. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported that two paramedics lost their lives when a drone targeted their ambulance, and another civilian, a woman, was killed in a separate strike.
The SDF alleged that Turkish drones and warplanes were active over Kobani, Manbij, and other regions. In Raqqa, two drone strikes were reported, with social media footage capturing smoke rising from one of the impacted areas.
Neither the Turkish military nor intelligence services have commented on these incidents. Turkish-backed factions operating in northern Syria, which also possess attack drones, have similarly remained silent on the strikes in Raqqa.
