Israel Strikes Syria as Tensions Resurface
Israeli airstrikes hit western Syria late Friday, killing one civilian and targeting what the Israeli military described as weapons sites threatening maritime navigation in the region. The attacks, centered near the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous, marked the first such strikes in nearly a month, breaking a period of relative calm during recent talks between Israel and Syria’s interim leadership.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the country’s military “attacked and destroyed strategic weapons across Syria this evening that posed an immediate threat to the state of Israel.” “We will not allow threats, and no party will have immunity—we will continue to defend Israel’s security,” he continued.
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The Israeli military said the strikes hit storage sites for surface-to-surface missiles and components of air defense systems, which posed risks to both international and Israeli shipping.
According to Syrian state media, Israeli aircraft struck the area around the village of Zama in the Jableh district near Latakia. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the attacks also targeted military positions on the outskirts of Tartous. One civilian was reportedly killed in the Latakia strike.
Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since the civil war began, aiming to block weapons transfers to armed groups it sees as threats. Recent diplomatic efforts had signaled a potential thaw, including news that Israel is in direct contact with the new Syrian government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
