Syria condemns Israeli strike near Damascus as a breach of international law
Syria has written a diplomatic note denouncing an Israeli airstrike on the village of Beit Jinn, situated southwest of Damascus, that reportedly struck a civilian vehicle and left several residents injured.
The attack, said to be the second on Syrian territory in the past week, was described by the Syrian Foreign Ministry as a "violation of its sovereignty and international law."
Israel’s Defence Ministry, however, said the strike was aimed at a "terrorist" allegedly preparing attacks in the final stages of planning, describing the damage as a necessary counter‑terrorism action.
The incident follows a recent assault on the Abu al‑Duhur airbase close to the Turkish border, which has raised diplomatic tensions between Israel, Syria and Turkey. Washington’s State Department criticised the strike as an "unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability."
US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack hinted that Israel might be attempting to provoke Turkish forces into a confrontation ahead of Israeli elections; Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz responded, denying the allegations and insisting the operation was based on clear intelligence.
The strike has further strained an already fragile truce, with accusations that both sides are probing each other’s limits amid a backdrop of shifting alliances and ongoing conflict in the region.
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