Israeli drone strikes on Tuesday killed six Syrian soldiers in the southern outskirts of Damascus, Syrian state television reported. The strikes, which hit the town of Kiswah, also wounded several others and destroyed part of a military building belonging to the 44th Division, according to a defence ministry official who spoke anonymously to AFP. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the attack, adding that at least three additional people were injured, with some strikes continuing even after paramedics had arrived at the site.
Earlier the same day, a separate Israeli drone strike targeted a house in the village of Taranja, near the Golan Heights, killing a young man, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported. Both incidents highlight an escalation in Israeli military operations across Syria, which have intensified since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria over the years, primarily targeting military facilities and groups it considers hostile. The latest attacks drew condemnation from Syria’s Foreign Ministry, which described them as a violation of international law and a serious threat to regional stability.
The strikes near Kiswah are strategically significant, as the area serves as a key link between Damascus and southern provinces, including Sweida. Analysts say the growing frequency of Israeli operations reflects an attempt to reshape the balance of power in Syria following Assad’s fall and the ongoing instability in the region.
