Tue Dec 10 09:45:36 UTC 2024: ## Israel Deepens Syria Incursion, Sparking International Condemnation
**Damascus, Syria –** Israel launched a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, as its forces advanced to within 25 kilometers of Damascus, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Associated Press reporters in Damascus confirmed the intense overnight bombardment. Online photos showed significant damage to Syrian military assets, including missile launchers, helicopters, and warplanes.
The Israeli military operation followed the recent overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and aims to secure a roughly 400-square-kilometer buffer zone inside Syria, established after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Israel claims this is to prevent attacks and the fall of weaponry into extremist hands. While Israeli officials rarely comment on individual strikes, the Observatory reports over 300 airstrikes since the Assad regime’s fall. Reports also indicate Israeli troops are advancing along the Syrian-Lebanese border, although this remains unconfirmed.
An Israeli military official denied that troops had ventured beyond the buffer zone, contradicting Syrian reports. However, the incursion has drawn strong condemnation from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who accuse Israel of exploiting the situation in Syria and violating international law. Saudi Arabia, while engaged in normalization talks with Israel, strongly condemned the actions, highlighting the ongoing tensions. The conflict adds a new layer of complexity to the already volatile Middle East, particularly given Saudi Arabia’s recent accusations of Israeli genocide in Gaza. The situation remains highly fluid, with conflicting reports and significant international concern.
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