Israeli jets launched airstrikes on military sites in central Syria, particularly near Homs, targeting former army outposts. These strikes occur amid rising tensions following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. No casualties were reported from the latest strikes, although prior attacks have resulted in civilian deaths. Israel aims to prevent arms transfers to new Syrian authorities associated with jihadists.
On Tuesday, Israeli jets conducted airstrikes on military sites located in central Syria, constituting the most recent maneuvers in a series of assaults against Syrian military installations. Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British war monitoring group, indicate that the airstrikes specifically targeted a missile battalion near Homs, leading to explosions in the vicinity, although there were no immediate casualty reports.
Sources from security agencies disclosed to Reuters that the aerial strikes impacted former Syrian army outposts situated in the villages of Shinshar and Shamsin, located to the south of Homs City. These strikes focused on army fortifications that were suspected of harboring military equipment. The Israeli military has yet to officially comment on these recent airstrikes.
The timing of these attacks reflects the rising tensions that have emerged following Israel’s intensified airstrikes within Syrian territory, particularly after the December ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. Israel asserts that its military operations are intended to obstruct the transfer of weaponry to Syria’s new leadership, whom Israel accuses of associations with jihadist organizations.
On Monday, airstrikes in the southern city of Daraa reportedly resulted in the deaths of three civilians, as per reports from Syrian authorities. In a related incident last week, Israeli forces targeted a command center of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Damascus, which resulted in one acknowledged fatality.
Alongside these airstrikes, Israel has repositioned troops to a UN-observed buffer zone located on the strategically significant Golan Heights and has advocated for complete demilitarization of southern Syria in the proximity of its borders.
In summary, the latest Israeli airstrikes on military sites in Syria, particularly targeting former army outposts near Homs, highlight ongoing regional tensions. These operations are purportedly aimed at preventing weapon transfers to authorities in Syria linked to jihadist groups. The recent escalation follows a pattern of increased Israeli military activity since the political upheaval in Syria, impacting both military and civilian sites.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
