Israeli airstrikes in Syria have claimed the lives of nine individuals, as Israeli forces engaged in a military operation in the southern region, local authorities and a war monitor reported.
The Israeli military confirmed that its forces were responding to attacks from armed groups in the area.
According to a statement released on Telegram, Syrian officials described the shelling as part of an “Israeli incursion,” noting that it marked an unprecedented depth of advancement by Israeli forces into Syrian territory.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the deceased as local fighters who were attempting to resist the Israeli military.
The Observatory also reported that local mosques had issued calls for jihad in response to the attack.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that operations were conducted in the Tasil region, near Nawa, where troops “seized weapons and destroyed terrorist infrastructure.”
During the operation, armed militants opened fire on Israeli forces, prompting Israeli troops to retaliate both from the ground and the air.
“Our forces responded and neutralized several terrorists,” an Israeli military spokesperson said, adding that no Israeli personnel were injured.
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Israel has intensified its military operations in Syria, citing the need to eliminate potential threats near its borders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously called for a complete demilitarization of southern Syria, declaring that Israel would not tolerate the presence of hostile forces near its territory.
In December, following the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israeli troops entered the United Nations-monitored buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syrian-controlled areas, where they have since maintained a presence.
Since late last year, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes targeting military installations and weapon depots across Syria.
The latest wave of strikes on Wednesday hit multiple locations, including sites near the capital, Damascus.
The IDF reaffirmed its stance, stating, “We will not allow any military threat to take root in Syria and will take necessary action to prevent it.”
As the situation escalates, concerns are mounting over further violence and its broader implications for regional stability.