Israel Will Prevent "Southern Syria From Becoming Southern Lebanon"

The Israeli Defense Minister warned that his country will prevent "southern Syria from becoming southern Lebanon" and will respond "with fire" to attempts to implant the "Syrian regime" in the Arab country's "security zone".

Foreign Minister Israel Katz issued a statement late Tuesday, hours after military positions south of Damascus were bombed by Israeli aircraft, according to the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Katz confirmed that the Israeli Air Force is "vigorously attacking southern Syria" as part of Israel's policy of "liberating" the neighboring country.

"And the message is clear: we will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon," he added.

"We will not jeopardize the security of our citizens. Any attempt by the Syrian regime forces and the country's terrorist organizations to establish themselves in the safe zone of southern Syria will be met with fire," the statement concluded.

According to the IDF, the airstrikes hit military targets in southern Syria, including "command centers and several locations containing weapons."

"The presence of military forces and assets in the southern part of Syria poses a threat to the citizens of Israel. The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel," the same source said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a vast network of informants inside the country, reported that Israeli aircraft carried out four strikes on the headquarters of a military unit southwest of Damascus.

"At the same time, another Israeli strike hit a military position in Daraa province" in southern Syria, the NGO said.

AFP journalists reported loud explosions and planes flying over the Syrian capital.

The Observatory said Israeli airstrikes near Damascus left "at least two dead", without specifying whether the victims were civilians or soldiers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday demanded "the complete demilitarization" of southern Syria.

"We demand the complete demilitarization of southern Syria by the troops of the new Syrian regime in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa and Suweyda. We will not tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria," Netanyahu said.

After the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, the Israeli army took control of the Syrian part of Mount Hermon, within the demilitarized zone, an action criticized by the international community, which considered it a violation of the territorial agreement between Israel and Syria.

Israel, which views the new Syrian authorities with suspicion, has carried out hundreds of strikes on military installations in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, saying it wants to prevent the deposed president's arsenal from falling into the hands of the new forces.