Israeli airstrikes in southwestern Syria killed at least nine people on Thursday, April 4, 2025, intensifying the conflict in a region already fraught with power struggles and foreign interests. The attacks come as Israel accuses Turkey of attempting to establish a “protectorate” in Syria, escalating regional friction.
Syria’s state news agency SANA reported the deaths, stating the victims were civilians, while the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were armed residents from Daraa province.
The strikes follow a broader Israeli offensive that hit five Syrian cities late Wednesday, including a heavy barrage near the Hama military airport—an area where Turkey is reportedly seeking to establish a military foothold in coordination with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Syria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the Hama facility suffered “near-total destruction,” with dozens of civilians and military personnel injured.
In Paris, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply criticized Turkey, accusing it of attempting to dominate post-war Syria. “They are doing their utmost to have Syria as a Turkish protectorate,” he said. “We didn’t think it was good when Syria was an Iranian proxy, and we don’t think it should be a Turkish one either.”
Turkey swiftly condemned Israel’s actions, stating that the attacks violate Syria’s territorial integrity and undermine regional peace efforts. Ankara described Israel as “the greatest threat to regional security.”
Since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, Israel has seized and created a buffer zone in parts of southwestern Syria. While Israel claims the move is necessary to secure its borders from hostile armed groups, critics argue that its actions are destabilizing Syria and preventing long-term recovery.
In the town of Nawa, thousands marched in funeral processions for the victims. According to local activist Imad al-Basri, Israeli troops entered rural areas around Nawa on Thursday. Armed locals confronted them, prompting exchanges of fire and subsequent Israeli air and artillery strikes. Ambulances were reportedly blocked from accessing the area until morning.
“The government remains silent about these incursions,” al-Basri said, calling on Syrian authorities to take a firmer stand.
Last month, residents of Koawaya village clashed with Israeli forces attempting to cross farmland. On Thursday, the Israeli military dropped warning leaflets in the area, instructing residents not to carry weapons or approach key roads.
Internally, Syria’s interim government is still grappling with divisions among religious and ethnic groups. Relations remain tense with the Druze in the south and the Alawites along the coast. Amnesty International has condemned recent retaliatory killings targeting the Alawite minority, labeling them potential war crimes.
“Our evidence shows government-affiliated militias deliberately targeted civilians in cold blood,” said Amnesty Secretary-General Agnès Callamard, calling for investigations into the killings.
Amid the ongoing conflict, there has been some progress. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control much of northeastern Syria, recently struck a deal with the interim government to reduce hostilities. On Thursday, SANA reported a prisoner exchange in Aleppo, where both sides agreed to release 250 detainees.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/syria-israel-airstrikes-alsharaa-katz-76aafb7746b3a7eaf9f0f611d0926f53