Israel Attacks Syrian Military Positions in Strategic Coastal Region

Israel has carried out airstrikes on a Syrian air defense battalion near the coastal city of Tartus, marking another escalation in the long-standing tensions between the two nations. The attack, which occurred last night, was reported by Syrian state media, though details remain limited. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but the impact of the strike is still being assessed. Syrian Civil Defence teams have been deployed to the targeted site to evaluate the damage, and initial reports suggest significant destruction to military infrastructure.

A local Syrian television channel reported that the Israeli airstrike specifically hit an air defense battalion, reinforcing claims that the target was a military installation. Meanwhile, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a large explosion at Tartus Port, suggesting that the attack may have extended beyond just one military facility. The Observatory, which monitors the Syrian conflict through a network of sources on the ground, hinted that Israeli aircraft could be responsible for multiple strikes in the region.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had indeed carried out the strike. He stated that the targeted military site was located in Qardaha, near Tartus, and was being used to store weapons linked to the former Syrian regime. According to Adraee, the operation was a response to recent developments in the region, though he did not specify which particular incidents had prompted the attack. Israel has consistently expressed concerns over the movement of weapons in Syria, particularly those linked to Iranian-backed forces such as Hezbollah, and has frequently carried out airstrikes aimed at disrupting these supply chains.

This airstrike is the latest in a series of Israeli attacks on Syrian military positions over the past few years. Israel has long maintained that its actions are preemptive measures designed to prevent hostile forces, including Iran-backed militias, from gaining a foothold near its borders. However, Syria has condemned these strikes as violations of its sovereignty, accusing Israel of attempting to destabilize the country further.

The attack comes amid renewed diplomatic tensions between Israel and Syria. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly called for the demilitarization of southern Syria, arguing that the presence of hostile forces in the region poses a direct threat to Israeli security. Meanwhile, Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has sought to assure the international community that his government does not seek conflict with Israel.