Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted strikes in southern Syria overnight between Monday and Tuesday. The targets included radar and detection systems used for aerial intelligence gathering, along with military headquarters, weapons depots, and equipment belonging to the Syrian regime.
These strikes come as part of Israel's broader campaign targeting transit routes along the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons into Lebanon. Recent operations have focused particularly on areas in Wadi Khaled in northern Lebanon and southwest Homs in Syria.
The military action follows statements from Defense Minister Israel Katz made two days earlier regarding Israel's commitment to protecting Druze communities. "The government is now approving an unprecedented aid plan for the Druze and Circassian communities in Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the finance minister," Katz said. "As defense minister, I salute them for their loyalty and courage, and for their contribution to Israel's security in difficult and decisive times – we will continue to strengthen them and also protect their brothers in Syria from any threat."
Katz's comments came just one day after the IDF publicly acknowledged operations inside Syrian territory, where its forces located weapons caches and conducted search operations. The unusual disclosure represents a shift in Israel's typically secretive approach to cross-border military activities.
On Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conducted a tour of the security zone in Syria, accompanied by Northern Command commander Maj. Gen. Uri Gordin and other senior officers. This high-level tour followed the IDF's Saturday announcement confirming several military raids into Syrian territory.
The military released footage showing soldiers conducting searches and documented the substantial weapons cache discovered during these operations. However, the IDF withheld specific details about the precise locations and timing of these raids, maintaining some operational security.
The cross-border operations come after Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued an extraordinary warning over a week ago stating, "If the regime in Syria attacks the Druze settlement near Damascus – we will strike it." This direct threat to Abu Mohammad al-Julani's regime represented an unusual public stance on Israel's red lines regarding Syrian internal conflicts, particularly concerning Druze communities.
These developments indicate a significant expansion of Israel's military operations in Syria beyond its previously established air campaign targeting Iranian and Hezbollah-linked facilities, potentially marking a new phase in Israel's approach to threats from its northern neighbors.
