Israeli strike on Deraa sparks escalation amid rising regional tensions

Syria has strongly condemned an Israeli military strike on the southern province of Deraa, claiming it caused “significant human and material damage,” according to a statement released by the state news agency SANA.

The airstrike followed reports from the Israeli military that two projectiles had been launched from Syrian territory and landed in open areas within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. However, Syria’s Foreign Ministry stated that these reports remained unconfirmed and reiterated that Syria neither posed nor intended to pose a threat to any neighboring country.

The ministry warned that various actors might be attempting to destabilize the region for their own benefit, while Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz held Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa personally accountable for any aggression against Israel. Katz vowed that Israel would issue a “full response” to such threats.

This flare-up comes at a time when Syria and Israel had reportedly been engaged in indirect dialogue aimed at reducing tensions, marking a rare diplomatic shift in their historically hostile relationship.

Meanwhile, some Arab and Palestinian media reported that a little-known group named the Muhammad Deif Brigades allegedly linked to the late Hamas commander killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2024 claimed responsibility for the rocket launch. This claim has yet to be independently confirmed.

In response to the projectile fire, the Israeli army launched artillery strikes on southern Syria, particularly targeting the Wadi Yarmouk region in western Deraa, close to the Israeli-held Golan Heights. Local residents confirmed Israeli mortars had hit the area, which has recently seen heightened conflict and alleged Israeli military movements. Reports also indicated that villagers have been prevented from farming their land amid the instability.

Israel has continued its long-running aerial campaign against Syria, targeting what it describes as military infrastructure. It has held control over the Golan Heights since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and has expanded its military footprint since the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December.

In a parallel development, around the same time as the Syrian incident, Israel reported intercepting a missile fired from Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthi group claimed responsibility, stating the attack on Israel’s Jaffa was an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.