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Israeli tanks reach southern Damascus countryside
Israeli tanks were observed approximately 20 km from Damascus on the morning of December 10, according to Israeli media citing Arab reports, marking an unprecedented proximity to the Syrian capital.
The IDF has announced plans on December 7 to deploy additional troops for defensive operations in the Golan Heights as Syria’s military unexpectedly withdraws from key positions along the Israel-Syria border. However, so far, Netanyahu, who is in court over corruption charges, has not responded to calls by the UN to stop the illegal seizure of land in Syria.
“Syria is at a crossroads now and current Israeli moves on Syrian territory must stop,” Syrian state newspaper Al-Watan reported on December 10.
These reports coincided with accounts from Lebanese Mayadeen and Russian Sputnik News of Israeli forces entering Syrian military bases some 15 km northeast of Damascus and along the Qalamun Mountains separating Lebanon from Syria.
A Syrian security source told Reuters that Israeli troops had advanced to Qatana, located 10 km into Syrian territory east of the demilitarised zone that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria.
“It’s not true; the forces have not left the buffer zone,” an Israeli army spokesperson said, responding to Lebanese reports about them reaching the outskirts of Syria’s capital now in the hands of rebels.
“We are facing the most dangerous Israeli ground invasion in Syria, with Israeli forces stationed in the Quneitra Governorate building. The Israeli occupation has also carried out more than 300 airstrikes targeting strategic and military sites across Syria,” said Al Mayadeen correspondent Reda Al-Basha.
In parallel naval operations, the IDF confirmed conducting a large-scale overnight mission to destroy Syria’s naval fleet.
“The attack was carried out using Navy missile ships, during which many Syrian naval vessels carrying dozens of sea-to-sea missiles were destroyed in the Mina al-Bayda area and the port of Latakia,” the military reported, citing concerns about assets falling into hostile hands.
The tank movements near Damascus occur against the backdrop of broader military activity. Israel has conducted one of its largest air operations in history, striking more than 250 military targets across Syria over the past 48 hours following the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, Israeli military radio Galei Tzahal reported on December 9.
This reported tank presence near Damascus represents one of the deepest known Israeli military advances into Syrian territory in recent history, signalling a significant shift in the regional military landscape.
