Israeli shelling killed four people in southern Syria on Tuesday following clashes between Israeli troops and militants in the border area, according to Syria’s state news agency. The violence comes as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
The Israeli military reported that militants in southern Syria had opened fire on Israeli troops, prompting Israeli forces to return fire. An Israeli warplane also carried out an airstrike on the militants, though no details on casualties were provided. The military stated that “hits were identified” but did not specify whether Israeli troops were within Syrian territory when they were targeted.
Syria’s state media, however, reported that Israeli tank fire struck the town of Koya in the southern province of Daraa, killing four people and wounding several others, including a woman. A Syrian security source told Reuters that the death toll could rise as more information emerges.
Rising Tensions in the Region
Tensions between Israel and Syria have been growing since December, when an Islamist-led leadership took control after rebels ousted former President Bashar Al Assad. In response, Israel has declared that it will not tolerate the presence of Islamist militants near its border and has deployed troops into Syria’s border zone. Despite the clashes, Syria’s leadership has stated that it does not intend to open a new front against Israel.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel confirmed that it had carried out airstrikes on two military bases in Homs province, central Syria. “A short while ago, the IDF struck military capabilities that remained at the Syrian military bases of Tadmur and T4,” an Israeli military statement said.
Israel’s Continued Strikes in Syria
For years, Israel has conducted airstrikes on Syrian territory, particularly during Assad’s rule, targeting Iranian-linked military installations and arms transfers meant for Hezbollah. However, since Assad’s removal, the arms supply routes have been disrupted, but Israel has continued its military operations against Syrian military bases.
The ongoing Israeli strikes have drawn international concern. On Tuesday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warned that Israel’s actions in Syria risked further escalating the conflict.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Giden Saar, Kallas stated that the EU views these attacks as unnecessary. “We feel that these things are unnecessary because Syria is right now not attacking Israel,” she said.
With tensions at the border intensifying, regional and international actors are closely monitoring the situation to prevent further escalation.
