Syrian Shelling Sparks Israeli Retaliation: What's the Latest?
Syrian barrage met by Israeli retaliatory strikes
In an unexpected turn of events, tensions escalated between neighboring countries Syria and Israel following reports of shelling from the former into the latter's territory. Israel has retaliated with counterattacks in the south of Syria.
According to the Israeli military, air strikes were carried out in southern Syria in response to the penetration of two projectiles into Israeli territory overnight. Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has accused the Syrian transitional government of being responsible for the shelling. However, Damascus vehemently denies any role in the event and describes the shelling on Israel as an attempt to destabilize the region.
Damascus, through the state-run Syrian news agency Sana, has claimed that various parties are trying to destabilize the region for their own interests. Regarding the reports of shelling directed towards the Israeli side, they cannot confirm their validity. Later, Damascus strongly condemned the Israeli air strikes "in the strongest terms," calling them a violation of Syrian sovereignty and a factor exacerbating regional tensions.
This marked the first such incident since the fall of long-time Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. The Israeli army also confirmed that it had targeted sites in southern Syria in response. Sana reported that the Yarmuk Basin in the west of the province of Daraa had been struck.
Reports from organizations like the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicate "massive explosions" in southern Syria, primarily in Kuneitra and the province of Daraa. No casualties were reported, but agricultural areas were hit, with the Observatory stating that the Israeli attacks targeted weapons of the Syrian authorities.
It is crucial to note that Syria has repeatedly stated that it "has not and will not pose a threat to any party in the region." Despite the ongoing tensions, Syria and Israel have reportedly held face-to-face meetings aimed at de-escalating tensions and preventing conflict.
Sources: ntv.de, rog/AFP
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- Wars and Conflicts
Enrichment Insights:- Israeli response: Israel responded with artillery fire and airstrikes targeting what it claimed to be government-held weapons sites in southern Syria.- Ongoing diplomatic efforts: Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has stated that Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is directly responsible for any threats or attacks on Israel. Simultaneously, there have been reports of face-to-face meetings between Syria and Israel aimed at calming tensions and preventing conflict.- Syria's stance: Syria denies involvement in the rocket attacks, attributing them to "numerous parties" trying to destabilize the region. They have also emphasized their commitment to regional stability and called for the international community's help in stopping such attacks and restoring security and stability in the region.
The Israeli response to the Syrian shelling involved artillery fire and airstrikes targeting what Israel claimed to be government-held weapons sites in southern Syria. Despite the ongoing tensions, Syria and Israel have reportedly held face-to-face meetings aimed at de-escalating tensions and preventing conflict, underscoring the need for political negotiations to address pressing issues such as the community policy, war-and-conflicts, general-news, and the environment. The environment has also remained a significant concern due to potential consequences from these military actions in areas like the Yarmuk Basin in the west of the province of Daraa.
