Military Space News
WAR REPORT
Israel army says struck military targets in southern Syria
Israel army says struck military targets in southern Syria
by AFP Staff Writers
Jerusalem (AFP) Feb 25, 2025

The Israeli army said it carried out air strikes targeting military sites containing weapons in southern Syria on Tuesday, just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for demilitarising the area.

At least two people were killed by a strike on one of the sites, the headquarters of a military unit southwest of Damascus, a war monitor said.

It was unable to confirm if the victims were civilian or military.

"Over the past few hours, the IDF (Israeli military) struck military targets in southern Syria including command centres and multiple sites containing weapons," the army said in a statement, without specifying the exact locations of the strikes.

"The presence of military forces and assets in the southern part of Syria pose a threat to the citizens of Israel. The IDF will continue to operate in order to remove any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two military sites south of the Syrian capital were targeted, as AFP correspondents reported hearing loud explosions and warplanes flying over the city.

The observatory said "Israeli aircraft carried out four strikes on a military unit's headquarters southwest of Damascus. Simultaneously, another Israeli strike hit a military position in Daraa province".

The strike in Daraa province hit Tell al-Hara, a strategic hilltop overlooking large areas of the Golan and northern Israel, according to the observatory

-- 'Completely demilitarised' --

The latest strikes came after Netanyahu said on Sunday that southern Syria must be completely demilitarised, warning that Israel would not accept the presence of the forces of the new Syrian Islamist-led government near its territory.

"We will not allow forces from the HTS organisation or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus," Netanyahu said, referring to Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham which spearheaded the offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad in December.

"We demand the complete demilitarisation of southern Syria, including the Quneitra, Daraa and Suwayda provinces," he said.

The same day Assad was ousted, Israel announced that its troops were entering a UN-patrolled buffer zone that has separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the strategic Golan Heights since 1974.

Israel seized much of the Golan Heights from Syria in a war in 1967, later annexing the area in a move largely unrecognised by the international community.

Netanyahu said that Israeli forces will remain in the buffer zone "for an indefinite period to protect our communities and thwart any threat".

Israel carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria during its civil war which broke out in 2011, mainly on Iranian-linked targets.

After the lightning offensive that ousted Syria's longtime president Assad, Israel carried out hundreds more air strikes on Syrian military assets in what it said was a bid to prevent them from falling into hostile hands.

Earlier on Tuesday, participants in Syria's national dialogue conference rejected what they said were "provocative" statements by Netanyahu.

In a closing statement, they also called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop any "aggression and violations", while condemning "the Israeli incursion into Syrian territory".

Related Links
Space War News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WAR REPORT
Ukraine says downed 6 Russian missiles, dozens of drones
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Feb 25, 2025
Ukraine said Tuesday that Moscow had launched over 200 drones and seven missiles overnight, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia's invasion. The Russian defence ministry confirmed the attacks, adding that they targeted military air fields and claimed all of them "were hit." The Ukrainian air force said Russia had deployed 213 drones of various types and fired seven cruise missiles but air defence systems downed six of the missiles and 133 drones. Seventy-nine drones were intercep ... read more

WAR REPORT
Proliferating Space-Based Missile Tracking to Counter Emerging Threats

Canada willing to join US 'Iron Dome' missile shield: minister

Russia slams Trump plan for 'Star Wars' missile shield

Teledyne Brown Engineering Completes Successful Launch of Black Dagger Zombie Target Missile

WAR REPORT
Air alert across Ukraine, missiles incoming: authorities

Pregnant teenager among five Ukrainians killed by Russian missile

Russian missile kills four, wounds 20 in east Ukraine: governor

Iran unveils new ballistic missile in show of force

WAR REPORT
Elbit Systems Introduces Dominion-X Autonomous Management OS for Unmanned Platforms

Elsight's connectivity enables Phoenix Air Unmanned to conduct 320-Mile UAV pipeline patrol for Shell

MARSS deploys NiDAR-powered defense shield for GCC naval bases

Engineers enable a drone to determine its position in the dark and indoors

WAR REPORT
ESA advances HydRON project for next-generation space communications

Airbus awarded Oberon satellites contract by UK MOD

Satellogic and Telespazio Brasil to provide low-latency satellite imagery for the Brazilian Air Force

Mobix Labs Secures Defense Funding to Advance SATCOM SoC Innovation

WAR REPORT
Denmark and Norway to 'increase cooperation' on defence

Eight soldiers killed in Colombia road accident

Shipment of 'heavy' US bombs arrives in Israel: defence ministry

Britain unveils 'firepower' package for Ukraine amid uncertainty over future of war

WAR REPORT
Lado Okhotnikov: "I'm always drawn to doing what others wouldn't dare

UK PM pledges to spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defence by 2027

Germany's next leader grapples to boost defence spending

China says defence spending 'entirely necessary' after Putin backs mutual cuts

WAR REPORT
Rubio says NATO not 'in jeopardy' after Merz urges independence

U.S. sides with Russia in U.N. resolution votes on Ukraine war

Trump's Pentagon shakeup puts military in political spotlight

US army commander meets Cambodian leader to 'expand defence ties'

WAR REPORT
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.