Syria has expressed strong condemnation following recent Israeli airstrikes that targeted several locations in Homs and Latakia. These assaults, which occurred during the early hours of Tuesday, were characterized by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as blatant violations of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic. The ministry emphasized the attacks as a direct threat to both Syrian national security and regional stability, as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Details regarding the extent of the strikes and any potential casualties remain unclear at this time. However, reports from the United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) indicate that Israeli warplanes targeted a Syrian air force base in Homs, resulting in significant explosions; no casualties were initially reported. Simultaneously, strikes in Latakia targeted military barracks, where sounds of ambulances were heard rushing to assist potential victims at the scene.
Israeli actions have been described as part of a continuing series of aggressive escalations aimed at undermining Syrian sovereignty. In response, the Syrian Foreign Ministry has urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to take a decisive stance against these violations, which it views as contradictions to international law and the principles outlined in the UN Charter.
Israel’s military engagements in Syria have escalated significantly in recent months. Data from SOHR indicates that almost 100 separate attacks were conducted by Israeli forces this year alone, which included airstrikes and incursions by ground troops. Between December 8 and December 31, 2024, a staggering 500 air assaults were executed, coinciding with the political upheaval following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus. Late August saw further intensification when six Syrian soldiers lost their lives in an Israeli drone strike, coming immediately after an incursion by Israeli ground forces.
This period of increased military activity aligns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vision for a “Greater Israel,” which has resonated with certain ultranationalist elements within Israel, leading to claims over territories in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, in addition to parts of Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan.
The ongoing situation highlights the complex dynamics in the region, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic efforts to ensure peace and security for all nations involved. Calls for restraint and dialogue remain essential as the international community navigates the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics.
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