Syria has formally denounced an Israeli military operation targeting the village of Beit Jinn, located southwest of Damascus, stating that the action constituted a breach of international law and Syrian sovereignty. According to Syrian officials, the strike damaged a civilian vehicle and resulted in multiple injuries. The incident represents the second confirmed Israeli attack on Syrian territory within a seven-day period.
Israeli military officials characterized the operation as a targeted strike against what they described as a terrorist operative in advanced stages of planning attacks that they claimed posed an immediate threat to Israeli soldiers. The timing of the assault follows another Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase near Syria’s border with Turkey, which Syrian authorities warned could intensify regional tensions. The Washington administration issued an unusual statement of disapproval regarding the earlier airbase strike, classifying it as an unnecessary escalation that fails to contribute to regional stability.
During a Friday interview, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey offered analysis suggesting the strikes could represent an Israeli effort to provoke Turkish involvement ahead of scheduled Israeli elections. Israel’s defense minister responded to these comments by labeling them as inaccurate and stressed that Israeli military actions were based on reliable intelligence assessments concerning Turkish intentions. Netanyahu’s office released a statement asserting that Israel and Syria had maintained a security understanding, which Syria allegedly threatened by permitting Turkish military forces to establish positions at an airbase in the Aleppo region.
The Abu al-Duhur airbase, situated approximately 70 kilometers from Turkish territory, has functioned outside its military capacity since 2013 and was seized by opposition forces in December 2024. Israel maintains occupation of southwestern Syrian territory gained following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024. Since Assad’s removal, Turkey has extended military support to Syria, while Israel maintains adversarial positions toward both nations. Syria’s current leadership has pursued strengthened relationships with Western powers, including a historic White House visit in November 2025.
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