Israel grabs land in Syria twice the size of Gaza

Israel has occupied Syrian land twice the size of the Gaza Strip, which spans 360 square kilometers, by conducting 480 air raids within 48 hours alongside a ground offensive that began last week.

According to reports, the Israeli army is now just a few kilometers away from Damascus as it intensifies its operations on the city’s outskirts.

On Sunday, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s government by rebel forces, Israel capitalized on the chaos to seize the Golan Heights buffer zone, a significant violation of the 1974 agreement.

Mount Hermon, a critical strategic point and the highest peak in Syria, has also been annexed by Israel.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Israeli airstrikes targeted the Shayrat airbase in Homs and a military installation in northern Raqqa. Among these attacks, Israel also struck a chemical weapons production site in Syria.

The opposition forces currently holding power in Syria have not released an official statement regarding the Israeli offensive. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the Golan Heights will remain part of Israel "for eternity."

The United Nations, along with Arab nations including Iran, Iraq, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, has condemned the Israeli incursion into Syrian territories.

Rebel  fighters entered Damascus without resistance early Sunday, the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies declared that Bashar al-Assad had left Syria.

The opposition forces took control of Damascus, including state TV, radio stations, and the Ministry of Defense.

President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule collapsed in just a week amid reports of his death or disappearance.

Celebrations erupted as government forces withdrew from key areas. In Damascus, the presidential palace was looted, prompting rebel forces to impose a curfew across the city.