Israel

Israel Kills 2 in Syria, Shells Village

Is Israel's military presence in Syria legitimate self-defense or an illegal occupation violating international law?

Published JUN 29

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Above: A man speaks with a child while sitting near an unexploded artillery shell that fell during overnight Israeli bombardment that hit the village of Abidin, close to Syria's Golan Heights, on June 29. Image credit: Sam Hariri/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Israel narrative

Israel's military actions in Syria are a legitimate response to its security concerns, with Israeli forces identifying threats near its troops. Engaging hostile fire is basic self-defense, not aggression. Maintaining a security presence in a volatile, post-conflict region is a necessary measure to protect against armed actors operating near Israeli positions. Israel will never allow an attack like Oct. 7 to happen again.

Ynet

Anti-Israel narrative

Israel's military expansion into Syria is an illegal occupation. Nearly 300 Israeli operations in Deraa and Quneitra in June alone displaced civilians, destroyed homes and violated the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. There is not a single shred of evidence suggesting that Israel faces serious security threats from Syria, and its actions demonstrate an aggressive, expansionist agenda.

Enab Baladi Al Jazeera