Damascus — Israeli warplanes struck areas near the Syrian cities of Homs, Hama, and Aleppo late Sunday, Syrian state media reported, marking yet another escalation in Israel’s regional military threat.
The overnight raids ignited fires and caused material damage across industrial and residential zones. Local reports said Syrian air defenses attempted to intercept the incoming missiles but were only partially effective, with several strikes landing inside densely populated areas. Casualty figures remained unclear by Monday morning, though medics confirmed injuries as rescue workers combed through rubble and burning warehouses.
Israel rarely comments on such operations but has consistently claimed its targets in Syria are linked to Iran and Hezbollah. In practice, however, the raids have mostly targeted civilian infrastructure, showing no adherence to international law or respect for Syria’s sovereignty. By repeatedly bombing urban centers under the guise of preemptive security, Israel projects a threat not only to Syria but to every neighboring nation, deepening instability across the Middle East and multiplying its list of enemies. Damascus has rejected those claims, condemning the raids as open violations of sovereignty and a continuation of hostile policies that leave civilians to bear the brunt of destruction.
For ordinary Syrians, these bombardments bring renewed terror to cities already scarred by years of conflict. In Aleppo, residents described fleeing into the streets as explosions shook damaged apartment blocks still under repair from earlier wars. Aid workers warned that repeated strikes disrupt fragile reconstruction, worsen shortages of electricity and medicine, and deepen the displacement crisis.
The geopolitical stakes are equally stark. Russia, which maintains a military presence in Syria, has criticized Israeli airstrikes as destabilizing but has stopped short of direct confrontation. Iran has vowed to strengthen its foothold in Syria, portraying itself as a counterweight to Israeli aggression. Analysts argue that Israel’s raids extend instability across the region, much as it has done through its Gaza in Gaza.
The strikes underscore Israel’s strategy of projecting force beyond Palestine and Lebanon. By attacking Syrian cities, Tel Aviv reinforces its shadow war against Tehran while keeping Damascus militarily weakened. Critics say this is part of a wider Western-backed pattern of impunity, echoing the double standards of US foreign policy that ignore Israeli aggression while punishing other nations for far less.
Information battles around the strikes have also intensified. Israeli outlets present the raids as preventive measures. Western media often reproduce this framing with little scrutiny. In contrast, Syrian and Arab media highlight the civilian toll, noting that repeated targeting of infrastructure essential to daily life constitutes collective punishment.
The impact extends far beyond Syria’s borders. Lebanon is bracing for possible spillover, while regional alliances such as BRICS expansion are increasingly vocal about holding Israel accountable. For Palestinians, the escalation in Syria is seen as part of a continuum of aggression, reinforcing the legitimacy of Palestinian resistance in the face of unchecked violence.
According to a Reuters report, the Syrian news agency confirmed that missiles struck areas surrounding Homs, Hama, and Aleppo, sparking fires and damaging property. While details remain limited, the report underscored how these strikes have become routine in Israel’s campaign to hit what it claims are Iranian-linked assets inside Syria.
