Israeli jets target Syrian military to prevent weapons falling into rebel hands
Published 2 years ago on Dec 11th 2024, 5:18 am
By Web Desk
JERUSALEM/DAMASCUS (Reuters): Israel has ordered its forces to create a "sterile defence zone" in southern Syria that would be enforced without a permanent Israeli presence as it tightens its hold along the line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday.
He gave no details but said the zone, would "prevent the establishment and organization of terror in Syria" after the collapse of the government of President Bashar al-Assad at the weekend ended over five decades of his family's rule.
"We will not allow this, we will not allow threats to the state of Israel," Katz said following a visit to a naval base in the northern Israeli port of Haifa.
Earlier, a military spokesperson said Israeli troops remained in the demilitarized buffer zone in Syrian territory created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war as well as "a few additional points" outside the separation area.
But he denied that forces had penetrated Syrian territory significantly beyond the zone, after Syrian sources said the incursion had extended to within 25 km (15 miles) of the capital Damascus.
"IDF forces are not advancing towards Damascus. This is not something we are doing or pursuing in any way," Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the military spokesperson, told a briefing with reporters.
Israeli media reported that the air force had carried out as many as 250 sorties as war planes struck a string of targets across Syria since the weekend. The operation, which appears to have been one of its biggest in years, aimed to ensure Syrian military equipment, including combat aircraft, missiles and chemical weapons, does not fall into rebel hands.
"I authorized the air force to bomb strategic military capabilities left by the Syrian army, so that they would not fall into the hands of the jihadists."
In addition to the airstrikes, Katz said Israeli missile ships had destroyed a Syrian military fleet in an operation on Monday night that British security firm Ambrey said targeted at least six vessels in the Syrian port of Latakia.
9 reasons to watch the 2026 World Cup
- 4 منٹ قبل
Apple wants Europe to blink
- 2 گھنٹے قبل
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is getting a remake for the Switch 2
- 2 گھنٹے قبل
Everyone’s a girl’s girl on TV. Until they’re not.
- 4 منٹ قبل
The US-Iran ceasefire is breaking down
- 4 منٹ قبل
The next victim of the Supreme Court’s voting rights decision will be workers
- 4 منٹ قبل
The App Store is going to add subscription bundles soon
- 2 گھنٹے قبل
.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Ishaq Dar contacts Turkish Foreign Minister, discusses changing regional situation
- 11 گھنٹے قبل
Microsoft AI chief walks back comments about AI taking over white-collar work
- 2 گھنٹے قبل
Finance Minister presents economic survey; several economic targets remain unmet, economic growth recorded at 3.7%
- 16 گھنٹے قبل
Pakistan intensifies diplomatic efforts for release of citizens held hostage by Somali pirates
- 15 گھنٹے قبل
Mohmand:security forces operation reveals killed khwarij as fghan national
- 14 گھنٹے قبل
You May Like
Trending
