DAMASCUS, Syria (BN24) — Israeli drone strikes near the Syrian capital of Damascus killed six Syrian soldiers this week, according to Syria’s government, in a series of escalating military actions that Damascus condemned as violations of international law and its national sovereignty.
Syria’s foreign ministry denounced the strikes, which took place Tuesday, calling them “a blatant breach” of Syrian territory and international conventions. The attack occurred as Syrian forces were investigating surveillance and eavesdropping devices found during a routine field tour near al-Kiswah, state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.
The strikes were followed by a rare airborne operation on Wednesday at a former Syrian military facility in the same area, according to both international media outlets and Syrian state sources. Details of the landing remain unclear, with conflicting reports on the duration and nature of the Israeli presence at the site.
SANA stated that multiple Israeli aircraft conducted strikes, after which “an airdrop took place, the details of which are yet to be determined.” A military source told Al Jazeera that dozens of Israeli troops were involved in the operation and remained on the ground for over two hours, equipped with advanced search gear. Reuters cited two Syrian army officials who confirmed the landing occurred but provided no additional information on its outcome.
Israel’s military declined to comment on the reports. However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz posted Thursday on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that Israeli forces are “operating in all combat zones day and night for the security of Israel.”
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the latest incidents are part of a broader Israeli campaign inside Syria that has intensified in 2025. SOHR reports that Israel has conducted 95 military operations this year alone, including 85 airstrikes and 10 ground incursions.
The reported Israeli operation took place just 10 kilometers (six miles) from where Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa was attending the Damascus International Fair on Wednesday, further raising tensions amid regional instability.
The Damascus government has accused Israel of systematically targeting military and strategic positions within Syria since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, when a coalition of Islamist-led rebels formed a transitional government. Israel has maintained that its actions are aimed at preventing weapons and advanced military systems from reaching extremist groups operating near its border.
The latest incidents also come amid renewed deconfliction talks between Israel and Syria, aimed at preventing unintended escalation along their shared border. Despite the diplomatic efforts, recent events have underscored the fragility of the situation.
In July, Israel launched strikes on Syrian military positions in the southern province of Suweida, following reports of sectarian clashes. At the time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the operation targeted forces and weaponry that the Syrian government allegedly intended to use against the local Druze population. Damascus condemned the strikes, reporting casualties among both Syrian military personnel and civilians.
The Druze community, a religious minority that practices a distinct offshoot of Shia Islam, exists in both Syria and Israel. The July airstrikes marked one of the most serious cross-border escalations involving the Druze since the Syrian conflict began.
As the region remains locked in a cycle of military action and retaliation, the international community has expressed concern over the risk of boader conflict. The Israeli government has not indicated any change in its operational posture, and Damascus continues to demand international accountability for what it describes as acts of aggression.
Credit: BBC
