Israel has carried out a series of intense airstrikes across Syria as its troops have reportedly moved closer to the capital, coming within 25 kilometers (15 miles) of Damascus, according to a Syrian opposition war monitor. However, Israel has denied that its forces are advancing toward Damascus.
Reports indicate that heavy airstrikes were heard in Damascus and its suburbs overnight and into Tuesday, with images circulating online showing destroyed missile launchers, helicopters, and warplanes.
Insurgent groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which have control over Damascus, have not yet commented on the situation.
Israel had previously seized a buffer zone of approximately 400 square kilometers inside Syria following the 1973 Mideast war, citing security concerns to prevent potential attacks after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.
Israeli officials have stated that the airstrikes are targeting suspected chemical weapons sites and heavy weapons to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel rarely confirms individual strikes.
Israel's military has a history of seizing territory during conflicts with neighboring countries and occupying it for security reasons. The Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed by Israel, remains a point of international dispute.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israel has conducted over 300 airstrikes across Syria since rebels overthrew Assad, ending his family's decades-long rule.
Reports suggest that Israeli troops are advancing along the Syrian-Lebanese border, although independent verification of these claims is not currently possible.
Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani refuted media reports of Israeli tanks advancing toward Damascus, stating that Israeli troops are stationed within the buffer zone for defensive purposes.
Israeli media sources have indicated that the air force is systematically targeting Syria's military assets to ensure that any future ruling entity in Syria would need to rebuild them.
Several countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, have condemned Israel's actions, accusing it of violating international law and exacerbating the situation in Syria.
The United Nations has called on both Israel and Syria to uphold the 1974 disengagement agreement, stating that Israel's incursion constitutes a violation of the agreement.
For more updates on the situation in Syria, visit the AP's Syria coverage.
