.jpg)
The strikes, targeting air bases, a site near Damascus and the southwest, put renewed focus on Israeli designs about the new regime. Also suspicious of Ankara's sway over Damascus, Israel had been working to advance its goals in Syria since Assad was toppled in December.
The Israeli army said its forces operating in the southwest overnight killed "several militants who opened fire on them". They were on a targeted mission at the time beyond the separation zone where they are deployed inside Syria, it said.
Syria's state news agency SANA said that Israeli shelling had killed nine people in the area, during what it described as the deepest incursion yet by Israeli troops in the area. Later on Thursday, Israeli strikes targeted the town of Kiswah south of Damascus, according to SANA.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that the airstrikes late on Wednesday evening were "a clear message and a warning for the future – we will not allow the security of the State of Israel to be harmed".
The Syrian foreign ministry said Israel struck five separate areas within a 30-minute window, resulting in the near-complete destruction of the Hama air base and wounding dozens of civilians and soldiers. It added that the strikes were an unjustified escalation aimed at destablising the country.
In Hama, a Syrian military source told Reuters a dozen strikes demolished the runways, tower, arms depots and hangars at the military airport.
Israeli aircraft carried out attacks in Syria’s capital Damascus and in the central province of Hama overnight, the IDF said on April 2.
The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said “military capabilities” at a number of Syrian bases were targeted, including Hama military airport, along with “military infrastructure remaining in the Damascus area.”
Israel said the attacks were launched in order to “remove any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel.”
The new Syrian government said Israel’s attack was an attempt to destabilize the country and violated international law.
Syria’s foreign ministry said dozens of civilians and military personnel were injured in the attack in Hama, resulting in “near total destruction” of the airport.
Footage captured by journalist Obada Jbara on Thursday shows the destroyed Hama Air Base, with sheep seen grazing nearby. Credit
Saudi Arabia has led Arab condemnation of Israeli airstrikes which violated the Syrian Arab Republic’s sovereignty and resulted in dozens of civilian and military casualties.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Israeli raids were “attempts to threaten the security and stability of Syria and the region through violating international laws.”
The Kingdom urged the UN Security Council’s permanent members to firmly address ongoing Israeli violations in Syria and the region, and called for the activation of accountability mechanisms.
Israeli airstrikes overnight targeted five areas in Syria, including the capital Damascus, and Hama Airport. Multiple people were injured while the actions, and a ground incursion, resulted in 13 fatalities.
Since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in December, Israel has captured areas of Syria’s southern territory in a bid to keep the forces of the new government back from the border.
Egypt said on Thursday that Israeli raids represented a new and flagrant violation of international law. It called on international actors to compel Israel to end its occupation of Syrian territory and to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates reiterated Amman’s support for Syria’s security, stability, and sovereignty. It stressed the need for Israel to adhere to international law and UN resolutions that call for respecting state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
.jpg&description=Saudi Arabia leads to condemn Israeli raids on Syrian territory, Nine killed){kind=link}