Israeli warplanes attacked a town south of Syria’s capital as well as the southern province of Daraa late on Tuesday, according to residents, security sources and local broadcaster Syria TV.
Israeli planes struck the town of Kisweh about 20 kilometres south of Damascus, a Syrian security source and Syria TV reported. The security source said a military site was targeted, but didn’t give more details.
The Israeli military later said in a statement that it attacked military targets in southern Syria, including headquarters and sites they claimed contained weapons.
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“The Air Force is attacking strongly in southern Syria as part of the new policy we have defined of pacifying southern Syria – and the message is clear: we will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s spokesperson said in a statement.
He added: “Any attempt by the Syrian regime forces and the country’s terrorist organizations to establish themselves in the security zone in southern Syria – will be met with fire.”
According to Reuters, people living in Damascus and reporters in the city heard planes flying several low passes over the capital and a series of explosions.
The attacks came hours after Syria condemned Israel’s movement into the country’s south and demanded they withdraw, according to the closing statement of a national summit.
Israel moved forces into a U.N.-monitored demilitarized zone within Syria after rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former Al Qaeda affiliate, toppled former President Bashar al-Assad in December.
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