Israeli Strike in Syria Sets ‘Red Lines’ for New Damascus Regime

Israeli forces in Syrian territory (Israeli military account)
Israeli forces in Syrian territory (Israeli military account)
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Israeli Strike in Syria Sets ‘Red Lines’ for New Damascus Regime

Israeli forces in Syrian territory (Israeli military account)
Israeli forces in Syrian territory (Israeli military account)

Israel’s airstrike near a town located west of Daraa in southern Syria on Tuesday, carried a political message backed by military force, political sources in Tel Aviv said on Wednesday.

The strike signaled a red line that no military force would be allowed to cross in the Yarmouk Valley, whether it belonged to the Syrian government or rogue militant groups, the sources claimed.

According to the sources, multiple armed factions are operating in southern Syria, challenging government forces in the area.

Israel, they said, is determined to confront these groups and make it clear that “playing with Israel comes at a heavy price.”

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that its warplanes had struck former Syrian army positions near the town of Sa’sa in southern Syria.

In a statement issued in the evening, the military said the attack involved nine airstrikes and was carried out under the direction of the Israeli army’s 210th Division. It added that operations would “continue to eliminate any threats to Israel.”

The Israeli military said it targeted “combat equipment belonging to the former Syrian regime,” without providing further details on the nature of the assets.

Israeli Army Radio reported that the airstrikes hit three Syrian tanks near Sa’sa, located about 20 kilometers from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The tanks were reportedly loaded with weapons and ammunition but had not yet been integrated into the Syrian government's new military forces.

The Israeli military confirmed that the raids were aimed at preventing the tanks from reaching Syrian government troops or other groups described as “terrorist.”

Other military sources acknowledged that the strike was part of a broader message Israel has been sending to the new leadership in Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The message, they said, is that Israel maintains a strong presence in Syria and, through its campaign against Hezbollah and Iran, played a role in the regime’s downfall—making it clear that any attempt to ignore Israel will not be tolerated.



AFP Appeals for Evacuation of Freelance Staff from Gaza

Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
TT
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AFP Appeals for Evacuation of Freelance Staff from Gaza

Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo

Agence France-Presse called on Israel on Tuesday to allow the immediate evacuation of its freelance contributors and their families from the Gaza Strip, citing worsening living conditions and escalating risks to their safety.

In a statement, the French news agency said its freelancers faced an "appalling situation" in Gaza. A 21-month war with Israel has devastated the territory, since Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023.

"For months, we have been witnessing, powerless, the dramatic deterioration of their living conditions," AFP said, adding that the situation had become untenable despite the "exemplary courage, professional commitment and resilience" of its local team.

The management statement came after AFP's journalists' association issued its own statement saying colleagues in Gaza risked dying of hunger.

AFP said it had succeeded in evacuating eight staff members and their families from Gaza between January and April 2024, after months of effort. It is now seeking to secure safe passage for its freelance Palestinian reporters, despite "the extreme difficulty of leaving a territory under strict blockade".

According to Reuters, Israel has barred international journalists from entering Gaza since October 7, 2023. AFP said the work of its Palestinian freelancers remained crucial to informing the world, but said they now had to leave because of the risk to their lives.

Reuters also works with freelance journalists in Gaza.

"Reuters is deeply concerned about the health and safety of its freelancers in Gaza, with whom we are in daily contact. The extreme difficulty sourcing food is leading to their and all Gaza residents experiencing greater levels of hunger and illness," a Reuters spokesperson said. "We are providing our contributors with additional financial support to help them and, should they wish to leave the territory, we will provide any assistance possible to help them get out."