Israeli army shells southern Syria hill despite de-escalation talks

Artillery Strike on Southern Syria

The Israeli occupation army fired four artillery shells at a hill in southern Syria on Saturday, intensifying tensions just days after delegations from both sides met in Jordan to discuss de-escalation measures. "The Israeli occupation army targeted Bat al-Warda Hill near Beit Jinn with four artillery shells," Alikhbaria TV reported, without providing details about casualties or material damage from the strike.

Diplomatic Efforts Undermined

The shelling occurred approximately one week after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani led a delegation to talks with Israeli representatives in Jordan under US mediation, a meeting SANA news agency said was aimed at reducing escalation following an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated last month that Damascus was pursuing a security agreement with Israel to pave the way for comprehensive peace while maintaining Syria's claim to the occupied Golan Heights, which Israel has held since 1967.

Expanded Military Campaign

Prior to Assad's ouster, Israel frequently targeted positions in Syria that it said were linked to Iranian-backed forces, but Tel Aviv has since broadened its operations to include weapons depots and strategic military installations across the country, recently bombing the Abu Duhur airbase in northwestern Idlib. Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since the 1967 war and continues to assert military dominance over the border region despite the change in leadership in Damascus.