Damascus: Israel has carried out airstrikes on western Syria, targeting coastal regions near Latakia and Tartous, according to statements from both the Israeli military and Syrian state media.
The attack marks the first Israeli aerial assault on Syria in nearly a month and comes just one day after the U.S. envoy to Syria expressed optimism that the long-standing hostilities between the two countries could be resolved through dialogue.
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that one person was killed and three others wounded in the strikes, which reportedly hit multiple sites in the Latakia and Tartous countryside. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed the strikes, suggesting Israeli warplanes targeted military installations along the Mediterranean coast.
In a rare confirmation, the Israeli military acknowledged the operation, stating that it had targeted weapons depots housing coastal missiles that it claimed posed a threat to both Israeli and international maritime activity. It added that it also struck surface-to-air missile components in the Latakia area, reiterating its stance that it would act decisively to protect its security and ensure freedom of operation in the region.
The strikes came shortly after Damascus publicly acknowledged engaging in indirect talks with Israel earlier this month aimed at easing regional tensions.
The timing of the attack is significant, coming just 24 hours after U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack visited Damascus. During his visit, Barrack described the conflict between Israel and Syria as “solvable,” advocating for initial steps such as a non-aggression pact and negotiations over territorial boundaries.
Israel and Syria have technically remained in a state of war since 1948, with hostilities intensifying after the 1967 war, during which Israel captured the Golan Heights. Israel has continued its military interventions in Syria over the years, targeting Iranian-backed groups and weapons transfers under both former President Bashar al-Assad and the current transitional government.
Following the recent collapse of Assad’s regime, Israel expanded its control over parts of Syrian territory near the border, citing concerns over the new interim government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whom it views as aligned with hardline Islamist factions.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump met al-Sharaa in Riyadh, encouraging him to consider normalising ties with Israel. While al-Sharaa has not publicly addressed the prospect of normalisation, he has expressed support for reviving the 1974 disengagement agreement, which established a UN-monitored buffer zone in the Golan Heights.
