Israeli air strikes hit sites in western Syria on Monday, killing at least one civilian according to a local monitoring group. This devastating attack highlights the unceasing antagonisms between Israel and Syria, who have been in a state of war since 1948 in name only. The Israeli military confirmed it struck components of surface-to-air missiles in Syria, aiming to prevent advanced weaponry from reaching groups that Israel views as jihadists.
The Israeli military has conducted hundreds of strikes and several incursions into Syrian territory since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2011. Israel had taken the Golan Heights from Syria in fighting during the 1967 Six-Day War. Today, this region remains a flashpoint of controversy as Israel insists that its occupation of it—now without a final status negotiated in good faith—is necessary for its security.
According to state media in Syria, the most recent airstrike struck in the vicinity of Zama. This small village is located in the countryside of Jableh, located south of Latakia. According to the Syrian state news agency, Sana, a civilian was killed “as a result of an Israeli occupation airstrike targeting the vicinity of Zama.”
“A strike from Israeli occupation aircraft targeted sites close to the village of Zama in the Jableh countryside south of Latakia.” – Syrian state television
In response to these developments, the Israeli military stated that it “struck weapon storage facilities containing coastal missiles that posed a threat to international and Israeli maritime freedom of navigation, in the Latakia area of Syria.” The military underscored its pledge to continue securing freedom of movement throughout the area.
“We continue to operate to maintain freedom of action in the region, in order to carry out its missions and will act to remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.” – Israeli military
Despite earlier this month, indirect talks between Syria and Israel aimed at defusing such tensions, which produced almost no substantial progress. With violence continuing to explode, the United States intervenes. info@earthjustice.org They have advocated for a “non-aggression pact” between the two countries to foster some stability in the region.
The stage for these airstrikes is a long, complex history of both war and territorial claims. With both nations still officially in a state of war, the possibility of even greater escalation is still high.