IAF strikes Palestinian Islamic Jihad headquarters in Damascus

The Israeli Air Force dropped hell on a Palestinian Islamic Jihad headquarters in Damascus Thursday, turning a quiet corner of the Dummar Project into a smoking crater. Senior jihadis—guys allegedly sketching out attacks on Israeli troops up along the northern border—were in the crosshairs, according to the suits in Jerusalem and whispers from Syrian street sources. 

This wasn’t a polite knock on the door; it was a message delivered in fire and steel.

A Syrian security guy, probably sweating through his knockoff Ray-Bans, told Reuters the bulls-eye was some “Palestinian figure.” Al-Hadath, the Saudi-backed news outfit, doubled down, saying a big-shot Palestinian official got the express ticket to paradise. 

Pictures from the scene? Think apocalyptic postcard—rubble, twisted metal, and smoke thick enough to choke a camel. Syrian press pegged the body count at eight but clammed up on the details. No names, no tears—just numbers. Jannah, here they come--get the goats ready.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz didn’t blink. “We ain’t letting these terror clowns set up shop in Syria,” he said, or something close enough. 

The IDF backed him up with their official line: “A short while ago, the IAF conducted an intelligence-based strike on a terrorist command center belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization in Damascus. The command center was used to plan and direct terrorist activities by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad against the State of Israel.”

They didn’t stop there. “The IDF will not allow terrorist organizations to entrench themselves in Syrian territory and operate against the State of Israel, and will respond forcefully to any such entrenchment,” the statement growled. “The IDF will continue to act against Palestinian terrorist organizations wherever necessary and will continue to operate to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.” 

Translation? Mess with the bull, get the horns—anywhere, anytime.

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This isn't a one-off. Ever since Bashar Assad’s house of cards folded in December, Israel’s been playing whack-a-mole with Syria’s new jihadi overlords and their pals. Under President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s shiny new jihadist regime, Palestinian terror crews have been sniffing around for a foothold. Israel’s response? Bombs, not brunch invites. Thursday’s strike was just the latest chapter in a book that’s all blood, no happy endings.

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IAF conducts largest airstrike in Syria since January

Israel recently launched its biggest airstrike in Syria since January 8th of this year. 

From Monday night into early Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked dozens of military targets tied to Syria’s new leader, Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The IDF hit radar stations, air defense systems, weapons storage sites, and military bases in southern Syria. They said these targets belonged to the new government and were a danger to Israel.

The IDF explained, "the presence of these systems in southern Syria poses a threat to Israel and to IDF operations. These targets were struck to eliminate future threats." This was the largest Israeli military operation in Syria in a while, aimed at stopping the new Syrian government from growing stronger.

Syrian news reported that the strikes hit military posts near Damascus, including the towns of Sa’sa and Qatana, as well as old bases in the Daraa region and the 90th Brigade in Quneitra. More attacks happened near Homs and by the Lebanese border. At least 41 airstrikes were counted just around Damascus.

Ron Ben-Yishai, a security expert from Ynet, said a recent attack by al-Sharaa’s forces on Alawite cities in western Syria made Israel see the new government as a growing problem. Israel worries not just about jihadist groups in Syria but also about the country becoming unstable, which could let Turkey increase its military power there.

A big concern for Israel is that groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad might use Syria to attack Israeli towns in the Golan Heights and Upper Galilee. Forces loyal to al-Sharaa have freed senior terrorists from these groups, who were jailed by the old leader, Bashar Assad, to stop them from targeting Israel. Now, there’s fear these terrorists are planning new attacks. Another worry is that Turkey might start arming and training jihadist fighters who support al-Sharaa.

To deal with these risks, Israel is trying to control what happens in southern Syria so the new government can’t get too strong near its border. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have said they won’t let regime-backed fighters or armed Sunni jihadists get close to the Syrian Golan. Many empty Syrian military bases in the area still have weapons, which could end up with dangerous groups.

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Meanwhile, al-Sharaa is working to solidify his power. On Monday night, he made a deal with the leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to bring Kurdish fighters into Syria’s government and army. This came after a meeting with SDF leaders, who are supported by the United States.

The deal happened because the Kurds were left out of last month’s "National Dialogue Conference," which was meant to plan Syria’s future. Al-Sharaa’s office said the agreement shows "the unity of Syrian territory and the rejection of its division." The SDF promised to help Syria fight leftover Assad forces and other threats. This deal ends any chance of the Kurds creating their own country in Syria, since they agreed to keep Syria whole.

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