Homs, central Syria – Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on military sites in Homs province, central Syria, on Tuesday, according to local sources. The strikes reportedly targeted military barracks formerly used by the deposed Syrian regime’s army, with plumes of smoke rising from the sites following the attack.
The airstrikes focused on the areas of Shinshar and Shamsin in southwestern rural Homs. No immediate information was available regarding casualties or injuries.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli warplanes also struck an artillery battalion in Khan Arnabeh, a village in Syria’s southern Quneitra province. According to Israel’s Maariv newspaper, the strike targeted artillery positions deemed a security threat. A senior Israeli military official stated that the presence of such weaponry in southern Syria posed a direct risk to Tel Aviv, emphasizing that Israel would not tolerate military threats in the region.
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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released footage showing airstrikes on artillery positions in Khan Arnabeh, reinforcing their stance on preemptive actions against perceived security threats.
Escalation in Southern Syria
In addition to the airstrikes, Israeli ground forces reportedly advanced into the town of Ma’ariya in the Yarmouk Basin area of Daraa province, southern Syria. According to Syrian media reports, Israeli troops, accompanied by heavy military vehicles, established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of the town and conducted searches on civilians.
The latest developments follow Monday’s Israeli airstrikes on the city of Daraa, which resulted in three deaths and more than 40 injuries. Among the casualties were individuals identified as Muhannad Akraad, Qusay Balboush, and Zidan Al-Deiri. The strikes targeted residential areas housing military officers, as well as the headquarters of the Syrian army’s 132nd Brigade. The attack triggered a series of explosions due to the destruction of an ammunition depot, with fires burning for hours.
Read more: Israeli Airstrikes Target Military Sites in Southern Syria
Dr. Ziad Al-Mahamid, head of Daraa’s health department, confirmed to +963 that the city’s hospitals were struggling to manage the surge of wounded, some of whom were in critical condition. Among the injured were a woman and several security personnel from Syria’s Interior Ministry. The healthcare system is facing severe shortages of medical supplies and equipment, compounding the challenges in treating victims.
Following the Daraa attack, Israeli warplanes launched over 30 airstrikes on Izraa, a northern district in Daraa province. These strikes targeted the Syrian army’s 12th Brigade and 175th Regiment, reportedly hitting additional ammunition storage facilities and triggering further explosions.