Israel has launched a new military operation in Syria, targeting the town of Kiswa, southwest of Damascus. The move came just one day after an Israeli drone strike killed six Syrian soldiers in the same area.
According to local reports, Israeli aircraft hit a former army base in Kiswa on Wednesday. Video footage, verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking team, shows several airstrikes hitting different locations in the town.
A Syrian military source confirmed that Israel also carried out a landing operation. Four helicopters were used to drop off dozens of Israeli soldiers. The troops reportedly searched the site for over two hours. No fighting was reported between Israeli and Syrian forces during the operation.
The Israeli operation is seen as an escalation in an already tense region. Syrian officials accused Israel of trying to expand its military presence. Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, calling it a clear violation of international law and national sovereignty.
This is not the first time Israel has targeted sites in Syria. Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes. These have mainly focused on military targets and groups linked to Iran and Hezbollah.
Recently, tensions have risen further. Syria claimed that Israel sent 60 soldiers to an area near Mount Hermon, close to the Lebanon border. This comes as violence also increases in Suwayda, a Druze-majority province, where over 1,400 people were killed in July.
Israel has not officially commented on the latest raid. However, it has often stated that its actions in Syria are aimed at stopping threats from Iran and its allies.
The situation remains tense, with fears of more clashes in the near future.
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