DAMASCUS/JERUSALEM — Israeli shelling killed four people in southern Syria on Tuesday after border clashes between Israeli forces and militants, Syria’s state news agency reported.
The escalation underscores rising tensions between Israel and Syria, where an Islamist-led government took control in December after rebels ousted longtime leader Bashar al-Assad.
Israel has vowed to prevent Islamist militants from establishing a presence near its border and has deployed troops into Syria’s border zone. Syria’s leadership, however, has denied any intention of engaging in direct conflict with Israel.
on its troops, but it did not clarify whether Israeli forces were inside Syrian territory at the time. Israeli forces returned fire, and an Israeli warplane conducted a precision strike on the attackers, confirming “hits were identified” but providing no casualty figures.
Syria’s state news agency reported that Israeli tank fire struck the town of Koya in Daraa province, killing four people and wounding others, including a woman. A Syrian security official told Reuters the death toll could rise.
Earlier in the day, Israel confirmed airstrikes on two military bases in Homs province, central Syria.
“Earlier today, the IDF targeted military capabilities at the Syrian military bases of Tadmur and T4,” an Israeli military statement said.
For years, Israel conducted airstrikes against Iran-linked military installations and weapons shipments destined for Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group active in Syria. However, following Assad’s removal, Israel has continued targeting key Syrian military facilities.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Israel’s continued strikes on Syria “risk further escalation” in the region.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Giden Saar, Kallas emphasized the EU’s position that these military actions are “unnecessary, as Syria is not currently attacking Israel.”
Despite growing international pressure, Israel remains firm in its security stance, maintaining that preemptive military action is necessary to secure its borders.
