[Damascus] Israel launched a wave of heavy airstrikes early Friday in one of the most intense nights in recent months, targeting Syrian military sites in Damascus, Daraa, Hama, and Latakia.
The strikes were accompanied by intensified aerial activity and unprecedented military movements in southern Syria. Rumors of a limited Israeli airdrop operation and alleged Turkish aerial warnings to Israeli aircraft added political and strategic dimensions that extended beyond the immediate military action.
According to informed Syrian military sources, the first wave of strikes targeted the following locations:
- An artillery regiment in Izraa, Daraa countryside
- Regiment 41 in Harasta, near Damascus
- The 1st Division in Al Kiswah, south of the capital
- Abandoned warehouses in Al Tal, Damascus countryside
- Defense factories in Masyaf, Hama countryside
- An air defense battalion in Ras Al-Sha’rah, Latakia countryside
- Military positions in Shahta (Ghab Plain) and Al-Sha’rah along the coast
- Strategic points in Tall Al-Hamr and Mothbeen in Daraa
The strikes injured four civilians in Harasta, according to sources who spoke to The Media Line.
Information obtained by The Media Line points to significant material damage at the targeted sites, some of which are believed to serve as weapons depots or command centers.
Speculation Over Helicopter Landing in Suwayda
In a surprising development, Syrian local media reported that an Israeli helicopter briefly landed in Suwayda province before returning toward the Golan Heights. While no official confirmation has been issued, the timing and location have sparked speculation that Israel may be conducting special operations in sensitive areas. This comes as Israeli rhetoric about “protecting the Druze” in Syria intensifies, particularly amid rising sectarian tensions in Suwayda and Jaramana.
Claims of Turkish Electronic Interference
Perhaps the most striking claim came from Syrian military sources, who alleged that Turkish aircraft emitted “electronic jamming and warning signals” aimed at Israeli planes during the raids. If confirmed, this could signal an unspoken tension between Ankara and Tel Aviv over Syrian airspace—or a Turkish attempt to assert a new aerial balance.
Though still unconfirmed, the report echoes earlier claims of an “implicit understanding” between Turkey and Israel to avoid direct confrontation in Syrian skies.
Analysts Link Strikes to Israel’s Regional Strategy
Political analyst Abdul Rahman Riyad told The Media Line that Syria has become a platform for strategic signaling. He explained that the Israeli strikes occurred amid rising internal unrest, particularly in the south, where Suwayda and Daraa are experiencing protests and armed confrontations.
In the context of growing security voids and the rise of local militias, Israel may have seized the opportunity to recalibrate its strategic positioning
“In the context of growing security voids and the rise of local militias, Israel may have seized the opportunity to recalibrate its strategic positioning by targeting command centers or alleged arms convoys linked to Iran or Hezbollah,” said Riyad.
He said these strikes align with Israel’s “campaign between wars” strategy, launched in 2017, which aims to weaken Iranian military entrenchment in Syria without triggering full-scale conflict.
What stands out is that presenting the strikes as “minority protection” may signal a shift in Israeli rhetoric—from targeted tactical operations to interventions framed in humanitarian or sectarian terms. This echoes Israel’s narrative during the Lebanese civil war in the south.
Damascus Issues Condemnation but Remains Militarily Passive
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Syria, entangled in a multilayered crisis, remains on the defensive. Aside from an official condemnation labeling the strikes a “violation of sovereignty and an attempt to destabilize the country,” Damascus has issued no significant military response.
With Israeli air dominance unchecked and no effective air defenses, the Syrian government appears incapable of mounting any credible deterrence. Amid economic collapse and worsening internal divisions, the country faces growing challenges in responding to repeated escalations that highlight its deepening vulnerability.
Druze Community Caught in Political Crossfire
Syrian political activist Abdul Rahman Al-Nasser told The Media Line: “Despite the uncertainty surrounding the alleged Turkish electronic interference, the mere circulation of such information raises serious questions about the future of Turkish-Israeli coordination in Syria.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the alleged Turkish electronic interference, the mere circulation of such information raises serious questions
Al-Nasser added: “For years, there was an undeclared understanding between both sides to avoid direct confrontation in Syrian airspace, with each focused on its own priorities—Turkey on the Kurdish YPG and Israel on Iranian entrenchment. However, recent indicators—from Ankara’s escalatory rhetoric to suspicious aerial maneuvers—suggest Turkey may be reassessing this tacit agreement, especially amid the resumption of security communication with Damascus.”
Israel’s repeated declarations about “protecting the Druze” in Syria—particularly in Suwayda—present a complex ethical and political dilemma for the Druze community there.
These statements are presented as a moral cover for Israeli strikes, yet they come from a state that occupies part of Syrian territory
Samir Salloum, a media activist and Druze resident of Suwayda, told The Media Line: “These statements are presented as a moral cover for Israeli strikes, yet they come from a state that occupies part of Syrian territory [the Golan], which is home to Druze communities.”
He added that the contradiction places Syrian Druze in a difficult position: they reject foreign intervention framed as sectarian protection, yet they also face internal threats stemming from regional chaos and a security vacuum.
Local sources in Suwayda voiced concerns that Israeli rhetoric serves Tel Aviv’s political interests while opening the door to sectarian tensions that could later be used to justify broader interventions.
Regional Condemnation of Israeli Airstrikes Grows
The Media Line attempted to contact the Syrian defense minister for comment on possible responses to the Israeli raids but received no reply.
However, a Syrian Foreign Ministry official told The Media Line: “Syria condemns the blatant Israeli aggression and calls on the international community to take action to stop the repeated violations.”
This statement is in line with the standard language Damascus issues after Israeli strikes.
Syrian journalist and activist Ahmad Alian said: “This recurring pattern of statements reflects chronic incapacity to deter, whether due to limited military capabilities or an unfavorable regional and international power balance.”
A wave of Arab and international reactions followed the Israeli airstrike that targeted the vicinity of the presidential palace in Damascus on Friday morning.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty on Saturday condemned the Israeli airstrike near the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus, describing it as a “serious and renewed violation” of Syrian sovereignty.
In a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdel Aaty warned of the “grave dangers” posed by Israeli policies in the region, which he said contribute to fueling regional instability.
Qatar also issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli airstrike, calling it a blatant aggression against the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and a grave violation of international law.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry reiterated its warning that Israel’s repeated assaults on Syria and Lebanon—alongside its ongoing brutal war on Gaza—risk igniting further cycles of violence and chaos in the region.
Doha urged the international community to pressure Israel into complying with international legitimacy and UN resolutions.
In a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also strongly condemned the Israeli airstrike near the presidential palace in Damascus.
Riyadh reaffirmed its categorical rejection of all Israeli aggression targeting the sovereignty, security, and stability of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed the urgent need to put an end to these blatant Israeli violations of international law, warning that continued acts of aggression and extremist Israeli policies would further escalate violence and instability across the region.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry also condemned the Israeli airstrikes near the presidential palace, affirming its firm rejection of all repeated Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty and its threats to the country’s security and stability.
Yemen’s Foreign Ministry likewise issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli airstrike near the Syrian presidential palace, describing it as a “flagrant violation” of Syrian sovereignty.
The ministry called on the international community to uphold its legal and humanitarian responsibilities by stopping Israel’s ongoing violations and crimes in the region, which it said threaten broader regional peace and stability.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) described the Israeli airstrike on the Damascus presidential palace as a dangerous escalation that undermines regional security and stability.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi reaffirmed the Council’s rejection and condemnation of all serious Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty and stability.
He emphasized the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, while rejecting all forms of foreign intervention in its internal affairs.
Al-Budaiwi said Syria’s stability and security form a foundation for both regional and global order.