Syria Condemns Israeli Air Strikes on Homs and Latakia, Calls for International Action

Syria has strongly condemned a series of Israeli air strikes that hit military sites in and around the western cities of Homs and Latakia in the early hours of Tuesday. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attacks as a “blatant violation” of the country’s sovereignty and a “direct threat” to regional stability. The strikes, according to Syria’s state-run news agency SANA, were unprovoked and part of what it called Israel’s escalating aggression against Syrian territory. While SANA did not release specific details on the scale of the attacks or any casualties, reports from the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated that an air force base in Homs and a military barracks in Latakia were targeted. Residents in both cities reported hearing powerful explosions, and ambulances were seen rushing to the scene in Latakia. However, no official confirmation of injuries or fatalities has been released as of yet. Syria’s Foreign Ministry issued a firm statement, accusing Israel of continuously violating international law and the United Nations Charter. The ministry urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take a “clear and firm stand” against what it called Israel’s “flagrant aggression.” Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria over the past few years, primarily targeting military infrastructure linked to Iran and Hezbollah. But since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the ongoing war in Gaza, the frequency and intensity of Israeli attacks on Syria have significantly increased. According to SOHR, Israel has conducted nearly 100 attacks in 2025 alone—86 from the air and 11 on the ground—resulting in the destruction of 135 sites and the deaths of at least 61 people. In just the final three weeks of December 2024, following Assad’s fall, Israel reportedly launched over 500 air raids across the country. Tensions have further escalated in southern Syria, particularly in Suwayda, where violence between Bedouin tribes and Druze factions erupted in mid-July. Government forces were deployed to restore order, but clashes intensified. In response, Israel launched strikes on Syrian troops and even bombed parts of Damascus, claiming it was acting to protect the Druze community. Israel has not commented on the latest strikes, but analysts say the attacks are part of a broader shift in its military posture, fueled by ultranationalist visions of a “Greater Israel”—a concept that includes claims not just over Palestinian territories but also parts of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. Despite recent US-mediated talks in Paris between Syrian and Israeli officials, hopes for de-escalation remain dim as Israel continues its military operations across Syrian territory. The Syrian government maintains that it will not tolerate violations of its sovereignty and vows to defend its land by all available means.

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