Israel has launched a series of air strikes near the Mediterranean port city of Tartous in Syria, according to reports from Syrian state media. These operations, which are framed within a broader context of military strategy, specifically target sites associated with the former regime of President Bashar al-Assad, in an effort to neutralize military assets that could potentially be exploited by adversarial forces.

An official statement from the Israeli army indicated that the most recent strikes were executed around Qardaha, known as the hometown of the deposed president and located approximately 60 kilometers north of Tartous. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that while Israeli aircraft conducted strikes, there have been no confirmed human casualties as of now. Efforts are underway by civil defense teams to ascertain the exact locations of the targeted sites.

Since the opposition’s rapid offensive that led to Assad’s ousting in December, Israel has intensified its military actions, executing hundreds of air strikes aimed at Syrian military installations. The Israeli government justifies these actions as necessary to prevent the armaments of the former regime from falling into the hands of parties that could pose a threat to regional stability.

The Israeli military has indicated that it recently targeted military sites containing weaponry in southern Syria, coinciding with remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advocating for a demilitarized zone. In what has been viewed as a breach of the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria, Israel has reportedly deployed forces into a United Nations-monitored demilitarized zone and has expanded its control over areas such as Mount Hermon, which lie outside this buffer region.

The ongoing situation has prompted responses from Syrian national dialogue conferences, where participants unanimously dismissed Netanyahu’s controversial statements and called for international intervention to curb what they termed as Israeli aggression. Furthermore, there is significant concern amongst local communities about Israel’s efforts to exacerbate sectarian divisions, particularly related to the protection of Syria’s minority Druze population residing in the southern regions.

In light of these developments, the international community faces pressing questions about regional security and the complex dynamics at play in Syria. The focus increasingly centers on fostering stability and supporting a peaceful resolution to ongoing hostilities.

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