Syria condemns deadly Israeli airstrikes on Sweida
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Syria condemns Israeli strikes on Sweida that killed civilians and soldiers, urging the UN and global powers to condemn the ongoing aggression.
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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, right, and Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, second left, stand on the balcony during their meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, July 12, 2025 (Azerbaijani Presidential Press Office via AP)
The Syrian interim presidency issued a statement on Tuesday calling on all civilian and military institutions in the country to prevent any "form of violations or abuses, regardless of the pretext."
The statement came in the wake of a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting several locations in Syria, including the southern province of Sweida. The attacks resulted in casualties among both military personnel and civilians.
In a separate statement, the Syrian interim Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the Israeli aggression, stating that the strikes led to the martyrdom of members of the Syrian armed forces, security personnel, and civilians.
Israeli military confirms direct strikes
The ministry reaffirmed Syria’s legitimate right to defend its territory using all means permitted under international law and urged the United Nations, the UN Security Council, and the international community to condemn the Israeli occupation’s repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty.
According to local sources and Syrian state television, Israeli warplanes launched air raids on multiple areas in Sweida province. One of the strikes reportedly hit the western entrance to the city of Sweida.
A spokesperson for the Israeli occupation forces confirmed the attack, stating that the military had targeted armored vehicles belonging to the Syrian army, including tanks, personnel carriers, and mobile artillery units. He claimed the operation was conducted under direct orders from the political leadership, with the intent to disrupt Syrian troop movements in the area.
Strikes target Syrian forces
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz announced that they have instructed the occupation military to launch strikes against Syrian government forces, citing attacks on members of the Druze community in Syria.
The statement claimed that the occupation forces would target "regime forces and weapons that were brought into the Sweida area," alleging violations of what they called a "demilitarization policy" that bars the presence of Syrian military units and weapons in southern Syria.
"Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherly alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel, and their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria," the statement said.
The occupation authorities framed their actions as a measure to “prevent the Syrian regime from harming them” and to “ensure the demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.” Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the occupation's Air Force has launched a wave of large-scale attacks on southern Syria.
Israeli airstrikes target Syrian military factions near Sweida
Israeli occupation warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on Monday targeting military factions linked to the new Syrian Ministry of Defense in the southern countryside of Sweida, according to local sources who spoke to Al Mayadeen.
The airstrikes specifically targeted convoys and gatherings of these forces along the strategic road connecting the village of al-Mazraa to the city of Sweida, where Syrian government-affiliated factions have reportedly been mobilizing and advancing.
In response to the strikes, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the raids were deliberate and served as “a clear message and warning” to the government of Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president. Katz claimed the attacks were meant to deter what the Israeli regime perceives as emerging threats along its northern frontier.
