Israel launches deadly attack on southern Syria amid troop build-up

According to local government sources, Israeli shelling of Syria's southern Daraa province on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least five people. The provincial government reported in a statement released via Telegram that the town of Kuwaya, west of Daraa, was bombed, with a preliminary count of five fatalities. The statement further added that residents have been fleeing the shelling by Israeli tanks.

Officials also stated that Israeli troops were seen massing in the area. This follows Israel's announcement of airstrikes against a Syrian airbase near Palmyra in the Homs province. After reports of the explosions in Daraa emerged, the Israeli military said that they conducted airstrikes in Syria in response to attacks from the demarcation line.

The Israeli military stated, "[Israeli forces] identified several terrorists who fired at them from southern Syria," without providing evidence. "The forces returned fire, and the Israeli Air Force attacked the terrorists. Hits were confirmed." This response highlights the ongoing tensions and potential for escalation in the region.

Omar al-Hariri, an independent journalist based in Daraa, stated on X that Israeli forces were continuing to amass troops on the outskirts of the town and were heavily shelling the area, resulting in more than seven deaths and dozens of injuries to date. Al-Hariri said, "The claims circulated by the Israeli military media about them being attacked in the village of Kuwaya, west of Daraa, are false."

"The truth is that they tried to arrest young men from Kuwaya, which was met with resistance, thus triggering their aggression." The journalist added that Israeli forces also ordered all residents to evacuate the town immediately. Since the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in early December, Israeli forces have been conducting regular airstrikes and ground incursions into Syria, sometimes resulting in injuries and deaths among residents of southern Syria.

Israeli officials frequently threaten Syria's new rulers, calling for the demilitarization of the country's south and claiming that the new rulers pose a threat to the Druze minority. The Syrian people nationwide, including the Druze in the south, strongly oppose Israel's statements and military actions, emphasizing their unified stance against foreign interference.