DAMASCUS (Dispatches) – Israeli forces have stepped up their military aggression across Syria, launching aerial strikes and expanding ground incursions, amid reports of normalization talks between Syria’s new leadership and Israel.
The escalation comes after Syria’s interim leader, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, acknowledged progress toward a possible security deal with Israel. Speaking on August 24, al-Jolani confirmed that discussions with Tel Aviv had advanced, though he stressed that any agreement would be based on the 1974 ceasefire line.
These remarks followed a controversial meeting between Syrian diplomats and an Israeli delegation in Paris, mediated by the United States. The talks have raised alarm among Arab nations, who view them as a sign of Syria’s move towards normalizing relations with Israel.
Despite this diplomatic outreach, Israeli military aggression has intensified. On Friday, Israel launched several land incursions into southern Syria, seizing strategic positions in the Quneitra and Rural Damascus regions. Israeli forces entered towns and villages, conducting house searches and arresting civilians, according to Syrian media.
Israel’s war minister Yoav Gallant defended the aggression, stating that Israeli forces would remain in areas such as Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh) to protect the Golan Heights and to safeguard the Druze population living in Syria. The Israeli military claims these actions are necessary to address security threats from the Syrian side.
The regime in Damascus, led by al-Jolani and his Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, has not taken substantial action to counter Israeli aggression. Despite calls for international intervention, including from the United Nations, to halt Israeli incursions, Syria’s response has been limited, raising questions about al-Jolani’s commitment to defend the country’s territorial integrity.
Israel’s aerial bombardment campaign, which has targeted Syrian military sites, including air defense systems and weapons depots, has continued unabated. The latest strikes killed at least six Syrian officers near the town of Al-Kiswah, with reports suggesting the attack was aimed at Israeli surveillance equipment recently discovered by Syrian forces.
The growing Israeli presence in southern Syria, including its control of the Golan Heights since 1967, has been compounded by the failure of Syria’s new regime to take decisive action against these violations. Al-Jolani’s regime faces growing criticism for its inaction as Israel pushes forward its military objectives and diplomatic overtures.