Israeli Air Force Strikes Former Base Used by Pro-Iran Militias Near Damascus

Latest Developments

Airstrikes Near Syrian Capital: The IDF reportedly carried out several airstrikes south of the Syrian capital of Damascus on August 27, targeting a base near al-Kiswah city that was previously used by pro-Iran militias. Defense Minister Israel Katz later stated that Israel’s “forces are operating in all combat zones day and night for the security of Israel,” though Jerusalem refrained from officially confirming or denying the strikes, which additional reports suggested included the deployment of IDF troops on the ground. A separate Israeli source claimed that the IDF’s goal was to dismantle a Turkish spying device that had been operational near Damascus for at least 10 years.
6 Syrian Soldiers Killed in Same Area: An Israeli drone strike on August 26 killed six Syrian soldiers in the same area as the latest strikes, according to the Syrian government. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said that the strike occurred after Syrian troops discovered “surveillance and eavesdropping devices” in the al-Kiswah region and were attempting to dismantle the equipment. Syria condemned the strike as a violation of international law and a breach of its sovereignty.
Operations Intensify as Israel-Syria Security Agreement Rumored: Diplomatic delegations from Syria and Israel held U.S.-mediated talks in Paris on August 20 to discuss “de-escalation” between the two countries. The talks followed another meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku in late July. On August 24, Sharaa confirmed that his government was holding “advanced” talks with Israel on a potential security agreement but that any deal would have to be based on the 1974 disengagement lines that were agreed to following the Yom Kippur War.

FDD Expert Response

“Despite ongoing discussions about a potential security agreement between Israel and Syria, tensions remain high, and several details still need to be resolved. Reports of the recent Israeli operation remain unverified, but if accurate, it would mark the most significant Israeli action on Syrian soil since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The central question now is how Syria chooses to respond. The risk for al-Sharaa is that he could appear weak, leaving him vulnerable to pressure from the hardliners within his coalition.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

“The reported Israeli military operation in Syria reflects a strategy of projecting military strength to deter adversaries in the region. Jerusalem seeks a Syrian state that can serve as a stable partner, or at a minimum, a non-hostile neighbor. At the same time, Israel is determined to thwart the emergence of hostile threats from Syrian territory, whether by state or non-state actors.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal