Mon Mar 17 20:53:07 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Airstrikes in Southern Syria Kill Two, Wound 19
**DAMASCUS, SYRIA** – Israeli airstrikes targeting military sites in southern Syria’s Deraa province have left two dead and 19 wounded, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, stating they were aimed at eliminating weapons and vehicles belonging to the Syrian regime, citing a threat to Israeli national security.
The Israeli army said the targeted sites included command centers and facilities containing military assets. While the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the strikes hit a site formerly used by Assad’s forces but now under the control of the current Syrian government, this is not the first such incident. Similar Israeli strikes targeting military assets in Deraa have occurred earlier this month.
Al Jazeera reported at least four airstrikes hitting the region. Analysts suggest this marks an escalation of Israel’s efforts to curtail Syrian military capacity in the south, effectively limiting the Syrian government’s control over the area. Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, targeting what it claims are Iranian and Hezbollah forces, in addition to Syrian military assets. The ongoing conflict highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region.
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