Damascus, 10 December
Syria’s war monitor said today that Israel has carried out heavy airstrikes in Syria and that its troops have penetrated further into the country to within 25 kilometers of the capital. Israel has denied claims that its troops entered Damascus.
Associated Press reporters in Damascus heard heavy airstrikes throughout the night and today in the city and its suburbs. Pictures circulating online show destroyed launchers, helicopters and warplanes. There was no immediate comment from the rebel group under the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which has taken over Damascus.
Israel previously occupied a buffer zone of about 400 square kilometers inside Syria, which was established after the 1973 West Asia War. This step was taken to stop the attack after the removal of President Bashar Assad. Israel also said it was attacking suspected chemical weapons sites and heavy weapons to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israeli officials rarely acknowledge such attacks. – Ap
Israel carried out more than 300 attacks across the country: media
The British-run channel ‘Syrian Observatory for Human Rights’ said that Israel has carried out more than 300 airstrikes across the country since the rebels ousted Assad in Syria. The Observatory and Beirut-based Mayadeen TV, which has reporters in Syria, said Israeli troops were advancing on Syrian interests along the border with Lebanon. It was not possible to independently verify these reports. Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said that reports of Israeli tanks moving towards Damascus are fake.