Israeli military operations in Syria escalated on Tuesday, with airstrikes targeting military bases in central Syria and tank shelling killing four people in the south. The clashes underscore the growing instability along the Israel-Syria border, fueled by recent political changes in Damascus.
The latest exchange of fire erupted after Israeli troops reportedly came under attack from militants in southern Syria. The Israeli military responded with gunfire and an airstrike, though it did not confirm whether its forces were inside Syrian territory at the time of the incident. “Hits were identified,” an Israeli military statement said, without specifying the number of casualties.
Syria’s state-run news agency reported that Israeli tanks shelled the town of Koya in Daraa province, killing four individuals and wounding several others, including a woman. A Syrian security official suggested that the death toll could rise as more details emerge.
The confrontation follows Israel’s continued stance against Islamist militant factions operating in Syria’s border regions. Since a coalition of rebels ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, a new Islamist-led government has taken control in Damascus. Israel has openly declared that it will not allow militant groups to establish a foothold near its borders and has deployed troops into the border zone.
Earlier in the day, Israel conducted airstrikes on two military installations in Homs province, striking bases in Tadmur and T4. The Israeli military described the operation as targeting “remaining military capabilities” at the sites.
For years, Israel carried out numerous air raids in Syria, primarily striking Iranian military assets and weapons shipments intended for Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group aligned with Tehran. These operations intensified under Assad’s rule but did not subside even after his fall. The collapse of Assad’s government severed key supply routes for Hezbollah, yet Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military infrastructure persist.
The latest round of strikes has drawn concern from international actors. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Israel’s actions could inflame an already fragile region. Speaking alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Giden Saar, Kallas expressed the EU’s concerns about escalating violence.
“We believe these strikes are unnecessary at this moment, as Syria is not actively attacking Israel,” she said.
With tensions mounting along the border and geopolitical shifts reshaping Syria’s leadership, the situation remains volatile. Whether Israel will escalate its military actions further or whether diplomatic efforts will intervene remains an open question.