Wednesday, 04 June 2025, 08:01 AM IST
Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply on Tuesday after rockets were fired from Syrian territory into Israel — the first such attack since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. In response, Israeli forces launched targeted airstrikes and issued a stern warning to the new Syrian administration led by President Ahmad al-Shara.
According to Israeli military sources, rockets were launched from Syria's western Daraa province toward the Golan Heights, a disputed area under Israeli control. Fortunately, the projectiles landed in open fields, causing no injuries or significant damage. This incident marks the first cross-border aggression from Syria since Assad’s ousting earlier this year.
In a strong reaction, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared that any future attacks from Syrian soil would be considered a direct responsibility of the Syrian President, Ahmad al-Shara. “We will no longer differentiate between rogue groups and the Syrian leadership. President al-Shara will be held accountable for any aggression emanating from his territory,” Gallant warned during a press briefing in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government has issued a statement expressing its commitment to regional stability. A spokesperson said, “Syria seeks peace, not provocation. We are investigating the source of the attack and urge all parties to refrain from escalating tensions.”
A newly-emerged militant faction named Mohammed Deif Brigades claimed responsibility for the rocket attack. The group is named after Mohammed Deif, the former Hamas military commander, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last year. Though the organization surfaced on social media only recently and was initially dismissed as insignificant, Tuesday’s attack suggests it may be more organized than previously believed.
Following the rocket fire, loud explosions were heard in the Daraa region as Israeli forces retaliated with airstrikes. The Israeli military confirmed it struck several launch sites believed to be used in the attack.
This escalation comes at a delicate time, as the United States had recently relaxed sanctions on Syria in what many saw as a move to normalize diplomatic ties with the new leadership in Damascus. Analysts now fear the renewed violence could derail these early efforts toward regional reconciliation.
International observers are closely monitoring the situation, warning that further hostilities between Israel and Syria could ignite a broader conflict in the already volatile region.
