Israeli Strikes Kill Nine in Syria Amid Turkey Tensions

3 Apr at 4:24 pm

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Israeli Strikes Kill Nine in Syria Amid Turkey Tensions \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least nine people in southwestern Syria on Thursday, escalating tensions between Israel and Turkey over Syria’s future. Israel accused Turkey of seeking to establish a “protectorate” in Syria, prompting harsh responses from Ankara. The strikes targeted areas linked to Turkish interests and intensified unrest in Daraa and Hama provinces.

Syria Struck Again – Quick Looks

Nine Dead in Strikes: Syrian and opposition sources report casualties, including armed residents.
Israel Hits Five Cities: Dozens of airstrikes reported, especially near Hama military airport.
Israel Accuses Turkey: Foreign Minister Sa’ar says Ankara aims to control Syria.
Turkey Responds Fiercely: Blames Israel for undermining regional security and sovereignty.
Hama Airport Devastated: Syria’s Foreign Ministry confirms massive destruction and injuries.
Tensions in Daraa: Israeli troops clashed with locals in Nawa, then withdrew.
Buffer Zone Criticism: Israel’s military presence seen as barrier to Syrian stability.
Ethnic Tensions Persist: Druze and Alawite communities feel alienated by Syria’s interim leaders.
Koawaya Incident: Flyers dropped warning residents not to bear arms or cross roads.
Kurdish Deal Progresses: SDF and Damascus reach ceasefire, hold prisoner exchange in Aleppo.

Deep Look

Tensions in Syria escalated sharply on Thursday after Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least nine people in the country’s southwest, with the fallout drawing in regional powers and highlighting the fractured nature of post-war Syria. The attacks—confirmed by Syrian state media and independent observers—coincided with accusations from Israel that Turkey is seeking to establish a de facto protectorate in the country, a charge Ankara has strongly denied.

According to SANA, Syria’s state-run news agency, the victims were civilians, though no specific identities were released. Meanwhile, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed the dead were armed local residents from Daraa province, a region that has seen increasing unrest.

The Israeli strikes, carried out late Wednesday into Thursday, targeted five cities, including a strategic air base in Hama—a location where Turkey is believed to be expanding its military footprint to bolster its ally, Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry issued a scathing condemnation, saying the strikes caused the “near-total destruction” of the Hama military airport and left dozens of civilians and soldiers injured.

A War of Words Between Israel and Turkey

In Paris, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar openly accused Turkey of pursuing expansionist ambitions in Syria.

“They are doing their utmost to have Syria as a Turkish protectorate,” Sa’ar stated, drawing parallels between past Iranian influence and what Israel now sees as Turkish overreach.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry fired back, branding Israel’s accusations as a distraction from its own actions.

“Israel has become the greatest threat to regional security,” Ankara stated, accusing Tel Aviv of undermining Syria’s territorial integrity and stability through ongoing military interventions.

Violence on the Ground in Daraa

In Nawa, a town in western Daraa province, thousands mourned the victims in street processions following the strikes. Local activist Imad al Basri said Israeli troops had advanced near the town’s outskirts for the first time and encountered resistance from armed civilians.

“People came out with light arms,” Basri said. “There was an exchange of fire, and then the Israeli army withdrew, followed by artillery and airstrikes.” He also accused the Israeli military of blocking ambulances, delaying aid to the wounded.

Israel has maintained a buffer zone in parts of southwestern Syria since the downfall of former President Bashar al-Assad, citing security threats from hostile groups. Critics, however, argue the buffer zone serves to prevent long-term Syrian recovery and sovereignty.

Koawaya and Ongoing Clashes

In Koawaya, another village in Daraa, tensions have flared repeatedly. Last month, residents clashed with Israeli troops allegedly attempting to cross farmland. On Thursday, Israel dropped leaflets warning locals not to carry weapons or cross a key road, further inflaming local fears of military occupation.

Meanwhile, Syria’s interim government, backed by various factions, is struggling to unify the country’s deeply divided communities. The Druze minority in the south and Alawite populations on the coast remain skeptical and angry following revenge killings and recent clashes with government-aligned militias.

According to Amnesty International, atrocities have continued even under the new leadership. The group released a report Thursday accusing pro-government militias of executing civilians from the Alawite minority in retaliation for perceived opposition.

“These were deliberate killings,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary-general. “Individuals were shot in cold blood, and authorities stood by for two days.”

Glimmer of Peace in the Northeast

Amid the chaos, some progress has emerged in the northeastern region, where Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control significant territory. After years of hostility, a landmark agreement was signed last month between the SDF and Damascus, ending a series of clashes and paving the way for a ceasefire and cooperation.

On Thursday, SANA reported a prisoner exchange between the two sides in Aleppo, with 250 detainees released in total—a move hailed as a confidence-building measure in a war-ravaged nation.

The deal has also cooled tensions with Turkish-backed militias, some of which are now cooperating with the central government to stabilize areas previously torn by conflict.

The Bigger Picture

As the regional power struggle between Israel, Turkey, and Iran continues to play out on Syrian soil, the civilian population remains trapped in the crossfire. While the new interim government works to consolidate power, foreign intervention and ethnic divisions threaten to derail progress.

With the Syrian conflict now stretching into its second decade, Thursday’s events are a stark reminder that peace remains elusive, and that Syria’s future is still being decided not just in Damascus—but in Ankara, Jerusalem, Tehran, and beyond.