Israeli Warplanes Strike Syria with Intense Bombing as Ground Troops Surge Deeper into Conflict Zone

As its troops moved farther into Syria, Israel launched a barrage of intense bombings across the country, bringing them within 25 kilometers (15 miles) of the capital, according to a Syrian opposition war monitor on Tuesday. Israel denied that its troops were moving closer to Damascus. Reporters for the Associated Press in Damascus reported hearing intense airstrikes on the capital and its environs throughout the night and into Tuesday. Images of destroyed jets, helicopters, and missile launchers have been making the rounds on the internet.

The rebel organizations that have taken over Damascus, commanded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An approximately 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) buffer zone within Syria was previously occupied by Israel, which claimed to have done so to stop attacks in the aftermath of the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. In order to keep heavy weaponry and suspected chemical weapons installations out of extremist hands, Israel has also stated that it is attacking them. Individual strikes are rarely acknowledged by Israeli officials.

Citing security reasons, Israel has a long history of occupying land during neighboring wars and keeping it there indefinitely. The United States was the only country to acknowledge Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, which it had taken from Syria during the 1967 Mideast War. Israel has conducted more than 300 bombings around the nation since rebels deposed Assad over the weekend, ending his family’s 50-year rule, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has been closely monitoring the situation since the civil war broke out almost 14 years ago.

Israeli troops are moving along the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon, according to the Observatory and Mayadeen TV, a Beirut-based network with reporters in Syria. The reports could not be independently verified. Israeli military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated that “the media reports about the alleged advancement of Israeli tanks towards Damascus are false.” He claimed that in order to defend Israel, Israeli troops are positioned inside the buffer zone. Troops would enter the buffer zone “and several other places necessary for its defense,” according to a prior statement from Israel’s military.

Meanwhile, the air force was systematically destroying Syria’s military assets, according to Israeli media, so that whoever takes over the nation next will have to restore them. Yossi Yehoshua, the military correspondent for Yediot Ahronot, the biggest daily in Israel, stated that the operations “have been systematically destroying all that remains of the escaped tyrant’s military.” To stop them from getting into the wrong hands and endangering Israel, waves of attacks have struck dozens upon dozens of targets, including weapons stockpiles of all types.He went on to say that the air force “presently enjoys complete freedom of action.”

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan have all denounced Israel’s invasion, charging it with breaking international law and taking advantage of the chaos in Syria. Israel’s advance was also denounced by Turkey, a significant supporter of the Syrian opposition to Assad. Israel was charged by the Turkish Foreign Ministry with “exhibiting a mentality of an occupier” at one point. Israel was charged by the Turkish Foreign Ministry with “exhibiting a mentality of an occupier” during a period when Syria was beginning to show signs of peace and stability. Stephane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesperson, said Monday that Israel’s entry violates the 1974 disengagement agreement and urged Syria and Israel to respect it.