Latest news with #UN-patrolled
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Syria says Israeli strikes 'aimed at undermining' progress, stability
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani condemned on Wednesday Israeli strikes in retaliation for overnight rocket fire, saying they were aimed at destabilising his country. Israel bombed southern Syria after the military reported that two projectiles were fired into Israeli territory, with media reports saying these were the first launched from Syria since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. Two unknown groups claimed responsibility for the launches, while Syrian authorities denied responsibility and said they would "never be a threat" to anyone in the region. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz held Syria's leader "directly responsible". There were no reports of casualties or damage on the Israeli side from the projectiles, which the military said triggered air raid sirens in the southern Golan Heights, a territory Israel seized from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981. The Israeli military said that the two projectiles "fell in open areas", later announcing it struck "weapons" belonging to the Syrian government in retaliation. Shaibani said that the Israeli attacks were "coordinated provocations aimed at undermining Syria's progress and stability". "These actions create an opening for outlawed groups to exploit the resulting chaos," the top Syrian diplomat told a news conference in Damascus alongside visiting EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica. "Syria has made its intentions clear: we are not seeking war, but rather reconstruction," he added. The foreign ministry earlier said in a statement carried by the official SANA news agency that the Israeli shelling was a "blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty" that "aggravates tensions in the region". "Syria has never been and will never be a threat to anyone in the region," it said. The ministry said it could not confirm whether rockets were launched towards Israel, blaming "numerous parties... trying to destabilise the region". Katz said in a statement that "we view the president of Syria as directly responsible for any threat or fire directed at the State of Israel". Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa led the Islamist group that spearheaded the offensive that toppled Assad. Following Assad's overthrow, Israel moved its forces into the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone in the Golan, and has carried out hundreds of strikes against military targets in Syria. Israel says the strikes aim to stop advanced weapons from reaching Syria's new authorities, whom it considers jihadists. A group called the "Martyr Mohammed al-Deif Brigades", named after the Hamas commander killed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, released a video it said showed the moment the rockets landed in the occupied Golan Heights. A second group known as the "Islamic Resistance Front in Syria" claimed responsibility for launching the two rockets at Israel. The group was created a few months ago and called for action against Israel from south Syria. AFP was unable to verify the authenticity of their claims. SANA reported Israeli shelling "targeting the Yarmuk Basin, in the west of Daraa" province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said bombardments had hit farmland in the province, without reporting casualties. Since taking over, Sharaa has said Syria does not want conflict with its neighbours, urging international pressure on Israel to halt its attacks. Analyst Bassam al-Suleiman said those benefiting from the escalation were "Iran and its militias", former Assad allies with a past presence in Syria. A strong government in Damascus "apparently contradicts the Israeli vision for Syria" as a weak neighbour, he said. Israel's recurring bombings of Syrian army infrastructure "hinders the emergence of a force capable of controlling all of Syria", Suleiman added. Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. US President Donald Trump last month lifted sanctions on Syria and expressed hope for eventual normalisation with Israel though analysts say that remains unlikely. During a visit to Damascus last week, US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack proposed a "non-aggression agreement" as a starting point between the two countries. bur-jos/ami/ysm
Leaders
6 days ago
- General
- Leaders
Israeli Military Strikes Syria in Response to Fired Projectiles
The Israeli military said it launched strikes on targets in Syria on Tuesday, responding to projectile launched from Syrian territory, with Defense Minister Israel Katz explicitly holding Syria's leader directly responsible for these provocative actions. However, Syria's foreign affairs ministry vehemently denied any involvement in the projectile launches, asserting that Syria has never posed and will never pose a threat to regional stability. Israeli media reported that these strikes marked the first instance of projectiles fired from Syria into Israeli territory since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December, with no reports of casualties or damage on the Israeli side. The projectiles triggered air raid sirens in parts of the southern Golan Heights, a region Israel captured from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981. Statements from Key Figures Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, issued a statement through his office, emphasizing that they view the Syrian president as directly responsible for any threats or attacks directed at Israel. Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the Islamist group that overthrew Assad, now faces the consequences of these actions. The Israeli military confirmed that two projectiles crossed from Syria into Israeli territory, landing in open areas. In response, Israeli artillery struck targets in southern Syria. Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported shelling targeting the Yarmuk Basin in the west of Daraa province. The Britain-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, noted that the bombardments hit farmland without reporting any casualties. Regional Impact and International Reactions Violent explosions shook southern Syria, particularly the town of Quneitra and the Daraa region, following Israeli aerial strikes overnight. Syria condemned the Israeli shelling as a blatant violation of its sovereignty, which further aggravates regional tensions. The foreign ministry reiterated that Syria has never been a threat to anyone in the region. The ministry denied responsibility for the strikes but acknowledged that numerous parties are attempting to destabilize the region for their own interests. They emphasized the priority of extending state authority in southern Syria and ending the presence of unauthorized weapons. Following Assad's overthrow, Israel moved its forces into the UN-patrolled demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights and has conducted hundreds of strikes against military targets in Syria. Ongoing Military Operations Israel asserts that these strikes aim to prevent advanced weapons from reaching Syria's new authorities, whom they consider jihadists. The Israeli military stated that its troops continue defensive operations in southern Syria to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and protect residents of the Golan Heights. Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. US President Donald Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria last month and expressed hope for normalized relations with Israel. However, experts believe that this prospect remains far from reality since the situation continues to evolve, with both nations on high alert and international observers closely monitoring the developments. The recent exchange of fire between Israel and Syria underscores the volatile nature of their relationship. As both countries navigate this complex geopolitical landscape, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a de-escalation of tensions and a path towards lasting peace in the region. Short link : Post Views: 41
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Syria says it's no threat, after rocket fire on Israel
Syrian authorities insisted Wednesday they would "never be a threat" to anyone in the region, after Israel bombed the country's south in retaliation for overnight rocket fire on the Golan Heights. Israeli media said the projectiles were the first launched from Syria into Israeli territory since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, with two unknown groups claiming responsibility. The Israeli military said "two projectiles were identified crossing from Syria into Israeli territory, and fell in open areas". It later said it struck "weapons" belonging to the Syrian government in retaliation. Defence Minister Israel Katz held Syria's leader "directly responsible". Syria condemned the Israeli shelling as a "blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty" that "aggravates tensions in the region". "Syria has never been and will never be a threat to anyone in the region," the foreign ministry said, in a statement carried by the official SANA news agency. The ministry denied responsibility and said it could not confirm whether rockets were launched towards Israel, blaming "numerous parties... trying to destabilise the region". There were no reports of casualties or damage on the Israeli side from the projectiles, which the military said triggered air raid sirens in the southern Golan Heights, a territory Israel seized from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981. Katz said in a statement that "we view the president of Syria as directly responsible for any threat or fire directed at the State of Israel". Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa led the Islamist group that spearheaded the offensive that toppled Assad. Following Assad's overthrow, Israel moved its forces into the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone in the Golan, and has carried out hundreds of strikes against military targets in Syria. Israel says the strikes aim to stop advanced weapons from reaching Syria's new authorities, whom it considers jihadists. A group called the "Martyr Mohammed al-Deif Brigades", named after the Hamas commander killed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, released a video it said showed the moment the rockets landed in the occupied Golan Heights. A second group known as the "Islamic Resistance Front in Syria" claimed responsibility for launching the two rockets at Israel. The group was created a few months ago and called for action against Israel from south Syria. AFP was unable to verify the authenticity of their claims. SANA reported Israeli shelling "targeting the Yarmuk Basin, in the west of Daraa" province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said bombardments had hit farmland in the province, without reporting casualties. "Violent explosions shook southern Syria, notably the town of Quneitra and the Daraa region, following Israeli aerial strikes" overnight, the Britain-based war monitor said. Since taking over, Sharaa has said Syria does not want conflict with its neighbours, urging international pressure on Israel to halt its attacks. Analyst Bassam al-Suleiman said those benefiting from the escalation were "Iran and its militias", former Assad allies with a past presence in Syria. A strong government in Damascus "apparently contradicts the Israeli vision for Syria" as a weak neighbour, he said. Israel's recurring bombings of Syrian army infrastructure "hinders the emergence of a force capable of controlling all of Syria", Suleiman added. Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. US President Donald Trump last month lifted sanctions on Syria and expressed hope for eventual normalisation with Israel though analysts say that remains unlikely. During a visit to Damascus last week, US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack proposed a "non-aggression agreement" as a starting point between the two countries. bur-jos/gmo/cms/nad/dv
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Israel army says shelling Syria after projectiles launched
Representative image (AI) DAMASCUS: The Israeli military said it was shelling targets in Syria on Tuesday in response to a pair of projectile launches, with defence minister Israel Katz saying he held Syria's leader "directly responsible". Syria's foreign affairs ministry denied firing the projectiles and said the country "has never been and will never be a threat to anyone in the region". Israeli media said Tuesday's strikes were the first fired from Syria into Israeli territory since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. There were no reports of casualties or damage on the Israeli side due to the projectiles, which the military said triggered air raid sirens in parts of the southern Golan Heights, a territory Israel conquered from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981. Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said in a statement released by his office that "we view the president of Syria as directly responsible for any threat or fire directed at the state of Israel". Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, led the Islamist group that spearheaded the offensive that led to Assad's toppling. The Israeli military said "two projectiles were identified crossing from Syria into Israeli territory, and fell in open areas", adding in a subsequent statement that its "artillery struck in southern Syria" following the launches. Syria's official news agency SANA reported shelling "targeting the Yarmuk Basin, in the west of Daraa" province. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said bombardments had hit farmland in the province, without reporting casualties. "Violent explosions shook southern Syria, notably the town of Quneitra and the Daraa region, following Israeli aerial strikes" overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, the monitor said in a statement. Never a threat Syria condemned the Israeli shelling as a "blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty" that "aggravates tensions in the region". "Syria has never been and will never be a threat to anyone in the region," the foreign ministry said in a statement published by SANA. The ministry denied responsibility for the strikes, but said "numerous parties are trying to destabilise the region to serve their own interests." "The absolute priority in southern Syria is to extend the authority of the state and put an end to the presence of weapons outside the framework of official institutions," it added. Following Assad's overthrow, Israel moved its forces into the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone in the Golan Heights, and has carried out hundreds of strikes against military targets in Syria. Israel says the strikes aim to stop advanced weapons from reaching Syria's new authorities, whom it considers jihadists. Israel's military said on Sunday that its troops were continuing "defensive operations in southern Syria" to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure and protect the residents of the Golan Heights". Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. US President Donald Trump announced last month the lifting of sanctions on Syria and voiced hope that it would normalise relations with Israel, but experts say that prospect is far from becoming a reality.
The Sun
6 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Israel Shells Syria After Cross-Border Projectiles Fired
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said it was shelling targets in Syria on Tuesday in response to a pair of projectile launches, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying he held Syria's leader 'directly responsible'. A military statement said that 'two projectiles were identified crossing from Syria into Israeli territory, and fell in open areas', adding in a subsequent statement that its 'artillery struck in southern Syria' following the launches. Syria's official news agency SANA reported shelling 'targeting the Yarmuk Basin, in the west of Daraa' province. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said bombardments had hit farmland in the province, without reporting casualties. 'Violent explosions shook southern Syria, notably the town of Quneitra and the Daraa region, following Israeli aerial strikes' overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, the monitor said in a statement. Israel said it had targeted weapons belonging to Syrian authorities following the launch of the projectiles. There were no reports of casualties or damage on the Israeli side due to the projectiles, which the military said triggered air raid sirens in parts of the southern Golan Heights, a territory Israel conquered from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981. Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said in a statement released by his office that 'we view the president of Syria as directly responsible for any threat or fire directed at the State of Israel.' 'A full response will follow shortly,' he added. Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, led the Islamist group that spearheaded the offensive that toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. Israeli media said Tuesday's projectiles were the first fired from Syria into Israeli territory since Assad's fall. Following his overthrow, Israel moved its forces into the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone in the Golan Heights, and has carried out hundreds of strikes against military targets in Syria. Israel says the strikes aim to stop advanced weapons reaching Syria's new authorities, whom it considers jihadists. In a statement on Sunday, Israel's military said its troops were continuing 'defensive operations in southern Syria' to 'dismantle terrorist infrastructure and protect the residents of the Golan Heights'. Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948.
