Syrian FM condemns Israeli strikes on Koayiah as 'flagrant violation'
3 Min Read
According to Syrian officials and local sources, Israeli forces used drones, tank shells, and heavy artillery to bombard both residential neighborhoods and farmland.
-
(Social Media)
The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday issued a statement condemning "Israel's" latest military aggression on southern Syria, calling it as a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty and international law. The ministry accused "Israel" of deliberately targeting civilian areas in the village of Koayiah, located in Daraa province, where air and artillery strikes reportedly killed at least six civilians and forced hundreds of families to flee.
The ministry noted that this attack marked a dangerous escalation in an ongoing pattern of Israeli assaults. "The continued Israeli aggression on Syrian territory... saw a dangerous escalation in the village of Koayiah," the statement read, linking the strikes to "Israel's" broader campaign of incursions into Quneitra and Daraa provinces. It stressed that such operations reflect a deliberate policy of undermining Syria's territorial integrity and destabilizing the region.
According to Syrian officials and local sources, Israeli forces used drones, tank shells, and heavy artillery to bombard both residential neighborhoods and farmland. The strike, they said, was unprovoked and resulted in the displacement of around 350 families. Daraa Governor Anwar al-Zoabi added that "Israeli occupation army violations and repeated attacks on Syrian territory pushed a group of residents to clash with a military force that tried to penetrate," further fueling the escalation.
The attack was met with widespread regional condemnation. Hamas denounced the aggression and praised Syrians for resisting Israeli intrusion. "The escalation uncovered the criminal Israeli occupation's intentions in Syria," the group said, calling on Arab and Islamic nations to confront what it described as Israel's "colonial schemes." Jordan and Qatar also slammed the assault, describing it respectively as "a dangerous escalation" and "a brazen violation of international law."
Read more: Hamas condemns Israeli aggression on Koayiah, praises Syrians' bravery
Despite Israeli claims of acting in self-defense, the Syrian Interim Government continues to maintain that Syria poses no threat to "Israel". Meanwhile, civilian casualties among Alawite communities in Syria's coastal regions continue to rise, likely the result of sectarian revenge attacks.
"Israel" has ramped up its military campaign in Syria since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, citing the need to block weapons transfers to the new Islamist-led authorities. On the same day as the Daraa attack, Israeli forces also acknowledged bombing military installations at Tadmur and T4 in central Syria—sites they had previously targeted.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen expressed alarm over "Israel's" stated intention to maintain a military presence in Syria and its calls for the full demilitarization of the south. Speaking before the UN Security Council, Pedersen warned that such actions risk further destabilizing an already volatile region.
