Israel carried out airstrikes on western Syria on Friday, targeting what it said were weapon storage facilities near Latakia, in the first such attack on the country in nearly a month. Syrian state media reported that one civilian was killed in the strikes.

In a statement released late Friday, the Israeli military said it “targeted components of surface-to-air missiles and weapon storage facilities containing coastal missiles” in the Latakia region, claiming the weapons “posed a threat to international and Israeli maritime freedom of navigation.”

Syrian state television said, “A strike from Israeli occupation aircraft targeted sites close to the village of Zama in the Jableh countryside south of Latakia.” Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that one civilian died as a result of the attack near Zama..

Israel says will continue strikes

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said jets “likely to be Israeli” struck military sites near Tartus and Latakia.

“In addition, components of surface-to-air missiles were struck,” the Israeli military said. “The Israeli army will continue to operate to maintain freedom of action in the region, in order to carry out its missions and will act to remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.”

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Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes on targets in Syria since the country’s civil war began, but attacks intensified following the ouster of longtime regime leader Bashar al-Assad in December. Israeli officials say the strikes are aimed at preventing advanced weapons from reaching Syria’s new authorities.

Friday’s airstrikes were the first since May 3, following a temporary lull in attacks. Israeli media reported that the bombing campaign had slowed in recent weeks.

Syria and Israel remain technically at war. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and later annexed the territory in a move not recognized internationally.

May 31, 2025 12:16 AM GMT+03:00