Israel Strikes Syrian Bases Again Despite EU Warning

JERUSALEM, 25th March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that they had again targeted two military bases in central Syria, a day after the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warned that such actions in Syria and Lebanon could lead to further escalation.

“The IDF has struck military capabilities remaining at the Syrian military bases in Tadmur and T4,” the Israeli military said, referring to the bases located near Palmyra and another approximately 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the city.

The military emphasised that it would continue operations to neutralise any threats posed to Israeli citizens.

Israel had previously struck these same bases on Friday, according to reports from a war monitoring group.

On Monday, during a visit to Jerusalem, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed concern about the risk of escalation due to Israeli strikes in Syria and Lebanon. “Military actions must be proportionate, and Israeli strikes into Syria and Lebanon risk further escalation,” Kallas said at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

Kallas stressed that Syria was not currently a direct threat to Israel, adding, “We feel that these actions are unnecessary because Syria is not attacking Israel at this time, and they only fuel further radicalisation against Israel.”

Since Islamist-led rebels overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s government in December, Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on military targets in Syria. The Israeli government states that these operations are aimed at preventing weapons from falling into the hands of groups it regards as jihadists.

Despite a ceasefire, Israel has continued to conduct strikes on Lebanon, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce. On Saturday, Israel launched air strikes on southern Lebanon in response to rocket fire that struck its territory, killing eight people. The rocket fire was the first such incident since a ceasefire took effect on 27th November. No group has claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.

The Israeli military has also deployed forces to the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the demilitarisation of southern Syria.

Syria’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s actions, accusing it of destabilising the country.

In response to a question regarding Israel’s position towards Syria’s new leaders, Kallas stated, “Of course, our concerns are the same. They may say the right things, but will they follow through with them?” She added, “We have discussed this within the European Union and among member states, and our stance is that we need a stable Syria.”

The ongoing tensions between Israel and its neighbouring countries continue to have significant implications for regional stability, with concerns about the broader impact of military actions on peace and security in the Middle East.