Middle East Tensions -

In recent news, Israeli airstrikes have caused significant casualties and damage in Syria. According to reports, at least 18 people were killed and 37 injured in a series of Israeli attacks on military sites near Masyaf, a town in Syria’s Hama province. The incident highlights the ongoing and complex nature of the conflict in the region.

The attack and its immediate impact
The attack took place on Sunday night and targeted several locations in central Syria. Syrian state news agency SANA reported the casualties and injuries, citing Syrian Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash. According to SANA, the attacks targeted several military facilities, including a scientific research center allegedly involved in weapons development.

The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported even higher casualties, with 26 people killed. This includes civilians and members of the Syrian government forces. SOHR also noted that the attacks damaged key infrastructure such as highways and power lines.

Israeli aircraft reportedly launched missiles from northwestern Lebanon, targeting various military sites. Syrian air defenses managed to intercept some of the missiles, but others caused extensive damage. The attacks caused a fire in a nearby forest area and damaged the Masyaf-Wadi al-Oyoun highway.

Reactions and denials
The Israeli military has declined to comment on the specifics of the attacks, in line with its general policy of not discussing foreign media reports. However, Israel has acknowledged in the past that it carries out attacks in Syria targeting targets linked to Iran and allied armed groups. The escalation follows a pattern of increased Israeli military activity in response to attacks on northern Israel by Hezbollah and other groups.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the airstrikes, calling them a “clear aggression.” Similarly, Iran, which has a significant presence in Syria, criticized the strikes as a “criminal attack.” Nasser Kanani, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, denied reports linking the attack to Iranian interests, specifically refuting claims that Iranian centers were targeted.

Western intelligence agencies have previously accused the Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) near Masyaf of producing chemical weapons, which Syria has denied. The SSRC has been the focus of international scrutiny, particularly after a chemical attack on the rebel-held town in 2017, which the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) attributed to the Syrian air force.

The wider context
The recent attacks are part of a broader pattern of Israeli military activity in Syria. Israeli air and artillery strikes have hit Syrian territory 64 times this year alone, according to the SOHR. These operations have destroyed nearly 140 targets, including weapons depots and military facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias. At least 208 fighters have been killed as a result of the attacks, including members of Syrian government forces, Hezbollah, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

In April, tensions escalated further when Iran accused Israel of bombing the consulate building in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of two senior Revolutionary Guard commanders. In retaliation, Iran launched a massive missile and drone attack against Israel, although most of the projectiles were intercepted by Israeli and US-led forces.

Humanitarian damage and ongoing conflict
The impact of these attacks on local communities is profound. The destruction of infrastructure, such as highways and power lines, disrupts daily life and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The reported deaths and injuries are a harsh reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict.

The situation in Syria remains highly volatile, with regional and international players involved in a complex web of alliances and conflicts. Israeli airstrikes are part of a broader strategy to counter Iranian influence and military presence in Syria. Meanwhile, the Syrian government and its allies, including Iran and Hezbollah, continue to face pressure from multiple fronts, complicating efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

In summary, recent Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military targets have resulted in significant casualties and damage, highlighting the ongoing tensions and conflict in the region. As international actors continue to deal with this complex situation, the human cost and wider implications of these actions remain a serious concern.

The West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, has long been a hotbed of conflict. Recently, however, the situation has taken a particularly worrying turn with the rapid growth of illegal settler outposts. Unlike officially recognised settlements, which are already considered illegal under international law, these outposts are completely unauthorised under both Israeli and international law. The emergence of these outposts has also been accompanied by increasing reports of violence, harassment and intimidation against Palestinian communities. An investigation reveals that not only are these outposts growing, but they are doing so with the apparent support of organisations with close ties to the Israeli government.

The Rise of Illegal Settlers’ Outposts:

Over the past few years, the number of illegal settler outposts in the West Bank has increased significantly. According to a comprehensive analysis, there are now at least 196 of these outposts, 29 of which were established last year alone – more than in any previous year. Unlike larger, government-sanctioned settlements, which often appear as urban enclaves with defined boundaries, outposts are usually smaller, more scattered clusters of caravans, tents or rudimentary homes. They often begin as agricultural or grazing efforts, but quickly develop into semi-permanent or permanent settlements, enabling rapid control and encroachment on land.

A personal story of displacement and violence:

One of the many Palestinians affected by this expansion is Aisha Shtayyah, a grandmother who was forced to leave her home of 50 years last October after being reportedly threatened with a gun by an armed settler, Moshe Sharvit. “He made our lives hell,” Aisha said. She described how the harassment began soon after a checkpoint was set up less than 800 meters from her home. Since then, she says, she and her family have faced constant harassment, including the destruction of their property and threats to their safety.

Moshe Sharvit, who was identified earlier this year by the U.K. and U.S. as one of a number of banned extremists for inciting or carrying out violence against Palestinians, has been accused of using his outpost as a base to intimidate and displace local Palestinian families. Despite these allegations and international sanctions against him, he continues to operate freely, highlighting the challenges in addressing settler violence in the region.

Violence linked to checkpoints:

The growing presence of checkpoints has been linked to rising levels of violence against Palestinian communities. Experts and former Israeli military officials alike acknowledge the tensions caused by these checkpoints. Avi Mizrahi, a former Israeli army commander in the West Bank, said that while most settlers are law-abiding citizens, the establishment of illegal outposts inevitably leads to conflict. “Whenever you build outposts illegally in the area, it brings tensions with the Palestinians living in the same area,” he said. Indeed, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has documented more than 1,100 settler attacks against Palestinians in the past 10 months, describing the current level of violence as “unprecedented.” At least 10 Palestinians have been killed and more than 230 injured in these incidents, with violence increasing following Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza. In turn, at least five settlers were killed and 17 injured in the same period.

Organisations behind the outposts:

A key factor behind the expansion of these outposts is the support they receive from organisations linked to the Israeli government. For example, the World Zionist Organisation (WZO) has been identified as providing land and financial support for the establishment of outposts, even if they are illegal. Documents obtained by Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now and analysed by BBC investigators show that the WZO’s Settlement Division, which is funded entirely by Israeli public money, has allocated land for agricultural use, only for illegal outposts to be built on it. Despite the Settlement Division’s contracts prohibiting construction on these lands, satellite imagery has shown that at least four outposts have been built on land allocated by the WZO.

Another organisation involved is Amana, which has lent large amounts of money to settlers to establish these outposts. Amana’s influence on settlement expansion is well documented, but recent evidence suggests it is also actively supporting illegal outposts. In a leaked recording of a 2021 meeting, Amana’s CEO, Ze’ev Hever, boasted about the organization’s efforts to expand outpost settlements, noting that these areas now control nearly twice the area of officially recognized settlements.

Tag: Middle East Tensions

Israeli airstrikes have caused significant casualties and damage in Syria.

“Escalating Land Seizures by Settlers in the West Bank””Escalating Land Seizures by Settlers in the West Bank”