At least nine people were reported dead in south west Syria late on Tuesday in a series of Israeli airstrikes that further strained regional relations and drew international worry over growing violence.
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the victims in the Nawa city consisted of civilians. However, UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated they were not Israeli but local Daraa province militiamen who challenged Israeli forces pushing near the city.
The strikes were from a wider Israeli assault across five Syrian cities late Wednesday, including a bombing run against the Hama military airport. Syria’s Foreign Ministry reported the facility suffered almost complete destruction, dozens hurt.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in a press conference in Paris accused Turkey of seeking a “protectorate” in Syrian territory, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry counter-held, dubbing of Israel’s strikes as destabilizing that threatened regional sovereignty.
Witnesses in Nawa said a fierce battle was fought as locals stood up to the break-in. Activists claimed ambulances were now delayed because of continued airstrikes and shelling.
Amnesty International condemned the killings, and demanded an investigation into possibly war crimes after testimonies emerged of intentional targeting of civilians in retaliations.
In another case of cooperation, a prisoner swap in Aleppo between the Syrian Kurdish forces and a Damascus-backed crew let 250 inmates from jail.
The attacks are a drastic turn of events, a reflection on Syria’s tumultuous journey to peace.
