Israeli airstrikes targeted air defense battalion near the Syrian port city of Tartus

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that airstrikes targeted the outskirts of Tartus on Monday night. As of the latest updates, there have been no immediate reports on casualties or the scale of damage resulting from the attacks.

Syrian Civil Defense units, alongside military specialists, were swiftly deployed to the scene to evaluate the extent of the damage and pinpoint the exact locations of the attacks.

A local television channel has reported that airstrikes targeted an air defense battalion located in a coastal city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a significant explosion at Tartus port, coinciding with the sounds of unidentified aircraft flying overhead.

In an official statement, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed that regime forces had launched an attack on a military facility located in the town of Qardaha.

According to Syrian sources, recent airstrikes targeted three former Syrian military sites, including a radar station located north of the town, a weapons depot, and a berth near the Mediterranean port of Tartus.

On December 8, 2024, militant groups spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham successfully overthrew the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In the aftermath of the Assad government’s fall, the Israeli military has conducted a series of airstrikes targeting military installations, facilities, and arsenals previously operated by Syria’s now-disbanded armed forces.

Israel has faced widespread and intense condemnation for terminating the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria, amid accusations of taking advantage of Syria’s turmoil following President Bashar al-Assad’s downfall to annex territory.

The United Nations established a buffer zone in the Golan Heights following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Since its inception, a contingent of approximately 1,100 UN troops has been stationed to oversee and maintain peace within the area.