In a stark escalation of regional tensions, Israeli air strikes on Damascus and the Sweida province have drawn sharp international criticism and prompted the United Nations Security Council to call an emergency session on Thursday.
The strikes, launched on Wednesday, targeted Syrian army positions in the capital and southern Syria amid an ongoing conflict between Druze militias, Bedouin groups, and government forces. Syrian authorities slammed the raids as a “blatant violation” of national sovereignty and international law, reporting civilian injuries, including women and children, and significant material damage.
Authorities warned the attacks reflect a “systematic policy of escalation” and vowed to exercise all legitimate rights to defend the country. They urged the UN and global community to condemn the strikes and take “urgent and decisive measures” against repeated violations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also voiced condemnation, highlighting the air strikes in Sweida, Daraa, and the center of Damascus. His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, noted concerns over reports of the Israel Defense Forces redeploying along the Golan front.
From Israel’s perspective, the raids aimed to prevent the Syrian regime from harming the Druze community—an operation framed around deep fraternal alliances and historic ties between Druze in Syria and Druze citizens of Israel.
Violence in southern Syria erupted last weekend after a Bedouin tribe allegedly attacked and robbed a young Druze man near al-Masmiyah, sparking retaliatory kidnappings and clashes. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the combined toll of skirmishes, summary executions, and air strikes in Sweida has climbed above 350.
As diplomats prepare for the Security Council session, global audiences—from activists to entrepreneurs—are watching closely to see if international diplomacy can rein in the violence and uphold humanitarian norms.
Reference(s):
Outcry mounts over Israeli strikes in Damascus as UNSC plans session
cgtn.com
