Israeli forces press on with attacks in Syria and Lebanon despite US mediation
Israeli troops shelled a hilltop near Beit Jinn in western Damascus countryside and raided a house in Quneitra, while also striking targets in southern Lebanon. The operations occurred days after Syrian and Israeli officials met in Jordan with US mediation to discuss ending the attacks. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Syria since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The latest Syrian incidents follow a pattern of escalating Israeli operations in the country's southern regions since the Assad government fell in December 2024. Israeli forces have also moved into the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights, a demilitarized area that had separated the two militaries for decades. Damascus and Ankara have both denied Israeli allegations that Turkey was establishing a military presence at a Syrian airbase near the Turkish border, which Israel bombed.
In Lebanon, the strikes span multiple districts in the south, including Tyre, Bint Jbeil, and Marjayoun, with Israeli forces conducting air attacks, artillery fire, and property demolitions. The operations follow a US-brokered framework agreement meant to end hostilities after a March escalation, which began when Hezbollah responded to the killing of Iran's supreme leader during the US-Israel war on Iran. Israeli drones have also been observed flying over Beirut's southern suburbs.
The continued Israeli operations despite US-mediated talks could deepen civilian displacement and humanitarian strain across southern Syria and Lebanon, where residents face recurring shelling, raids, and demolitions. The pattern may also erode confidence in American diplomatic leverage in the region, potentially emboldening other actors to pursue military solutions over negotiated settlements. Regional observers could see the escalation as signaling that ceasefire frameworks carry limited weight, which may affect future diplomatic efforts and the security calculations of neighboring states.