DAMASCUS, Syria – Israel has launched heavy airstrikes across Syria as its forces push deeper into the country, approaching within 25 kilometers of the capital, a Syrian war monitor said on Tuesday. Israel denied that its forces were heading for Damascus.
Associated Press reporters in Damascus heard intense airstrikes throughout the night and into Tuesday in the city and its suburbs. Pictures circulating online showed destroyed missile launchers, helicopters and warplanes.
There was no immediate comment from the terrorist groups – led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS – that have seized control of Damascus.
Israel had previously seized a nearly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) buffer zone inside Syria that was established after the 1973 Mideast war, a move it says was taken to prevent attacks after President Bashar was overthrown. Assad.
Israel also said it is striking areas suspected of having chemical weapons and heavy weapons to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israeli officials rarely acknowledge individual strikes.
Israel has a long history of occupying land during wars with its neighbors and occupying it permanently, citing security concerns. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a way unknown to the rest of the world, except the United States.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has tracked the conflict since the civil war broke out nearly 14 years ago, said Israel had struck more than 300 planes across the country since rebels overthrew Assad at the weekend, killing half of his family. -rule of the century.
The Observatory, as well as Beirut-based Mayadeen TV, which has journalists in Syria, said Israeli troops were advancing on the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon. The reports could not be independently verified.
Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said that “reports that have been circulating in the media about the alleged development of Israeli tanks in Damascus are false.” He said that Israeli soldiers were stationed in a secure area to protect Israel.
The Israeli military previously said the soldiers would enter the fortified area “with a few other areas necessary for their defense.”
Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the air force was destroying Syrian military equipment in order to ensure that whoever is in charge of the country next will rebuild it.
The offensive “has been destroying every remnant of the army of the fugitive dictator,” wrote Yossi Yehoshua, military correspondent for Israel's largest daily, Yediot Ahronot.
“A number of targets, including storage facilities for weapons of various kinds, have been hit by waves of attacks to avoid falling into hostile hands and pose no threat to Israel.” The Air Force “currently enjoys complete freedom of action. ,” he added.
Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia condemned the Israeli attack, accusing it of using chaos in Syria and violating international law.
Turkey, which has been backing the Syrian opposition to Assad, has also criticized Israel's move. Turkey's Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “showing the attitude of an occupant” at a time when a chance for peace and stability was emerging in Syria.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Monday said the Israeli attack was a violation of the 1974 ceasefire agreement and called on Israel and Syria to hold it.
_____
Moure reported from Beirut and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.
Source link
