South Front
An Israeli F-16 fighter jet en route to an exercise in Germany in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)
Syria warned Israel on April 4 that it risks pushing the Middle East towards “total escalation” following a new wave of airstrikes that targeted Damascus and nearby areas.
The Israeli airstrikes, which were launched by Israeli warplanes in the early morning hours, targeted a civilian glass factory and military positions in the countryside of Damascus as well as a radar base in the neighboring governorate of al-Suwayda.
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said that two civilians were killed in the Israeli attack, which was the fourth in less than a week.
“Syria warns Israel and its sponsors once again of the dangers of these aggressive policies, which push the region towards total escalation and a new phase of insecurity and instability,” the Syrian Foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also accused Israel of conducting the airstrikes to “escape its internal problems through aggressions and crimes outside its borders”, in reference to the massive anti-government protests that have rocked Israel over the past few weeks.
Two waves of Israeli airstrikes hit positions in Damascus and its outskirts on March 30 and 31. The second attack claimed the lives of two officers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who were in Syria to assist and advise government forces. Tehran promised to avenge its officers.
On April 2, a third Israeli attack targeted al-Dabaa air base in the southern countryside of Homs and a nearby air defense base. IRGC personnel and fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah are known to be deployed in the area.
Later on the same day, Israel downed a drone over its northern front. Tel Aviv claimed that the drone was launched from Syria by Iranian-backed forces.
Israel and the IRGC appear to be heading towards a dangerous confrontation as a result of the recent attacks on Syria. The confrontation could take place in the war-torn country. Damascus new warning highlights the seriousness of the situation.
