Israeli airstrikes reportedly kill soldiers in Syria, officials say
Israel carried out two consecutive nights of airstrikes on al-Kiswah, a suburb of Damascus, Syrian officials reported, with at least six Syrian soldiers killed in the attacks. State media also reported a rare “airborne landing” by Israeli forces in the same area, though the timing of the operation was not specified.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a “clear breach of sovereignty and territorial integrity” and accused Israel of pursuing policies that destabilize the region. Syrian reports said the soldiers killed had been patrolling the area when they discovered “surveillance and eavesdropping equipment,” and additional government personnel were injured while vehicles were destroyed. Israeli officials have not commented on the operations.
The attacks follow heightened Israeli military activity in Syria since rebels overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s predecessor, with hundreds of airstrikes targeting military assets and a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in the south. Last month, Israel struck Syrian forces in Damascus and Sweida province amid sectarian violence involving the Druse minority, citing a need to protect the Druse community.
Israel maintains close ties with its own Druse population and has sought to strengthen relationships with the Druse in southern Syria as a potential ally and buffer against hostile groups near its border. Syrian authorities say they do not seek conflict with Israel, but Israeli officials continue to cite security concerns for military interventions.
Earlier this month, Syrian and Israeli officials met in Paris for U.S.-mediated talks aimed at improving relations after decades of hostility, marking the first public acknowledgment of direct discussions between Syria’s new government and Israel.
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