Israel carried out a series of large-scale airstrikes on Syria late Wednesday night, followed by a reported landing of Israeli troops south of Damascus. The attacks come amid ongoing speculation about potential normalization talks between Tel Aviv and Damascus.
According to both Syrian and Israeli media reports, four Israeli helicopters landed in the Al-Kiswah area, situated south of the Syrian capital near Suweida province. The operation, which reportedly lasted for several hours, involved dozens of Israeli soldiers entering a former Syrian Republican Guard base. Witnesses indicated that the troops met no resistance from government-aligned forces loyal to President Ahmed al-Sharra during the mission.
The Israeli troops were reported to have withdrawn after about 2 hours.
The troop landing was preceded by more than 15 Israeli airstrikes in the same area, including strikes on what was described as a military headquarters. The escalation follows an Israeli drone attack a day earlier that killed six Syrian soldiers in Al-Kiswah. Syrian officials have not indicated any immediate plans for retaliation.
Despite the continued military pressure, reports suggest that negotiations over a potential normalization agreement between Israel and Syria are progressing. Last week, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani reportedly met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Paris to discuss terms.
Israeli media has circulated details of a potential deal that would include significant constraints on the Syrian military, such as the demilitarization of areas south of Damascus—including the Golan Heights—and the creation of an Israeli-controlled corridor extending from the Golan Heights to the Druze-majority city of as-Suweyda.
Syrian state media has not officially confirmed these terms, but earlier this week a journalist familiar with recent discussions reported that President al-Sharra had spoken favorably about pursuing peace with Israel. According to the journalist, al-Sharra expressed confidence that the Syrian people would support a deal if it could bring long-term stability and end the protracted conflict along the southern front.
The developments underscore a complex balancing act: ongoing Israeli military actions on Syrian territory alongside diplomatic overtures that could reshape regional dynamics if an agreement is reached.