Israel’s latest strikes on Syria expose its role as Middle East aggressor, fueling endless war
By isabelle // 2025-06-04
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  • Israel attacked southern Syria after rockets were fired toward the occupied Golan Heights, with a new group claiming responsibility over Gaza atrocities.
  • Israel vowed a "full response," blaming Syria’s government, which denied involvement and condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty.
  • The attacking group, named after a Hamas leader, framed their actions as resistance to Israel’s Gaza war, while Israel escalated violence instead of addressing occupation.
  • Israel has a history of unprovoked strikes on Syria, expanding occupation under false security pretexts, despite Syria’s attempts at normalization.
  • The international community’s silence enables Israel’s aggression, perpetuating regional violence while avoiding accountability for occupation and apartheid.
Israel launched artillery and airstrikes on southern Syria late on June 3 after two rockets were fired toward the occupied Golan Heights in the first such attack from Syria in a year. A newly formed group, the Martyr Mohammad Deif Brigades, claimed responsibility, citing Israel’s ongoing atrocities in Gaza as justification. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed a "full response," holding Syria’s interim government responsible, while Damascus denied posing any regional threat. The incident underscores Israel’s relentless militarism and its role as an aggressor in the Middle East, further destabilizing a region already ravaged by occupation and war.

Israel’s disproportionate retaliation

The Israeli military confirmed striking weapons sites in southern Syria, including heavy shelling in Deraa and surrounding areas, claiming retaliation for the rockets that landed harmlessly in open terrain. Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, stating they caused "significant human and material losses" while denying any verified involvement in the initial rocket fire. Syria "has not and will not pose a threat to any party in the region," the ministry asserted, accusing Israel of exploiting tensions for further aggression. "This escalation constitutes a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and aggravates tensions in the region," the ministry stated. The Martyr Mohammad Deif Brigades, named after Hamas’ assassinated military chief, framed their attack as resistance to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. An anonymous commander told Al Jazeera their operations will continue until the war in Gaza is over. Yet Israel, rather than addressing the root cause of regional hostility—its own occupation and apartheid policies—chose instead to escalate violence, reinforcing its reputation as a rogue state operating outside international law. Katz said that he holds Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa responsible, stating: “We consider the president of Syria directly responsible for any threat and fire towards the State of Israel, and a full response will come soon,”

A history of unchecked aggression

Israel’s latest bombardment follows a long pattern of unprovoked attacks on Syria, particularly since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December. Under the guise of "security concerns," Israel has expanded its illegal occupation, seized additional Syrian territory, and demanded the demilitarization of southern provinces. Syria’s interim government, despite signaling willingness to normalize relations, has faced relentless Israeli hostility. Washington has pressured Damascus to crack down on Palestinian resistance factions, leading to arrests and asset seizures targeting groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Yet Israel continues to act as judge, jury, and executioner, bombing sovereign nations with impunity while accusing others of aggression. This latest attack on Syria serves as another advertisement for Israel’s war machine, reinforcing its status as a purveyor of state violence. While nations like Russia face global condemnation for invasions, Israel enjoys unwavering Western support despite its own record of illegal occupations, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid. Israel’s strikes on Syria are not about self-defense but about maintaining regional hegemony. By refusing to address Palestinian rights or end its occupation, Israel ensures perpetual conflict. The international community’s silence enables this brutality, allowing Israel to act as an unaccountable aggressor. Until apartheid is dismantled and justice is served, the cycle of violence will continue, with innocent lives paying the price. Sources for this article include: TheCradle.co AlJazeera.com BBC.com Reuters.com
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