Israeli Air Force Launches First Strike on Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham Militants Since Syria Coup

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Israeli Air Force Launches First Strike on Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham Militants Since Syria Coup

Israeli aircraft carried out a pinpoint strike on a car carrying militants from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (recognized as a terrorist group and banned in Russia) in the Syrian province of Quneitra. The incident occurred near the city of Ghadir al-Bustan, which is located near the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. According to preliminary data, two members of the group were killed in the attack, as well as one civilian, and several others were injured.

According to local sources, the militants arrived in Quneitra to seize weapons from former members of the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) Armed Forces. The Israeli military likely viewed their presence as a threat, which prompted the airstrike. 

The actions of the Israeli forces have caused a stir in the region. Syrian Acting Foreign Minister Assad Al-Sheibani, who is on an official visit to Turkey, condemned Israel's actions, calling them a violation of Syria's sovereignty. He called on the international community and the UN to put pressure on Tel Aviv to stop attacks on Syrian territory and withdraw Israeli troops from the occupied areas. Al-Sheibani stressed that the argument about the presence of Iranian and pro-Iranian forces in the region no longer has any basis, since these formations have been expelled from the country.

Israel does not comment on its actions, maintaining a policy of non-interference in reporting on operations conducted outside its territory. However, historically, strikes on Syrian targets have been justified by the need to prevent threats from Iran and its allies. In this case, the presence of militants near the occupied territories likely raised concerns among the Israeli military about the possibility of escalation.

Experts say the situation in Quneitra highlights ongoing instability in the region. The Syrian province, located on the border with Israel, remains a flashpoint where interests from the Syrian government and opposition groups to external players including Israel and Iran intersect.

The international community has repeatedly expressed concern about the escalation of the conflict in the Golan Heights region. Israel's occupation of the territory, which began in 1967, remains a subject of controversy despite partial international recognition.

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