Mapping Israel's expanding air attacks across Syria
Since December 10, 2024, just two days after the stunning collapse of more than 53 years of the al-Assad family, Israel has waged a campaign of aerial bombardment that has destroyed much of Syria's military infrastructure, including major airports, air defence facilities, fighter jets and other strategic infrastructure.
Over the past six months, Israeli forces have launched more than 200 air, drone or artillery attacks across Syria, averaging an assault roughly every three to four days, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED).
The map below shows the ACLED-recorded Israeli attacks between December 8 and May 30.
The bulk of the Israeli attacks have been concentrated in the southern Syrian governorates of Deraa, Damascus and Quneitra, which account for nearly 60 percent of all recorded Israeli attacks.
Deraa was the most targeted governorate, with 57 recorded attacks, focusing on former regime military sites and suspected arms convoys.
Damascus governorate, which hosts key military highways and logistics hubs, was attacked at least 49 times. Whereas Damascus city, the capital was attacked 18 times.
Quneitra, adjacent to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, was attacked at least 25 times; many attacks were aimed at radar and surveillance infrastructure.
In the immediate aftermath of al-Assad's ouster, Israeli troops advanced into the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, including areas within the United Nations-monitored demilitarised zone, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria.
The incursion drew widespread international criticism. The UN, along with several Arab nations, condemned Israel's actions as breaches of international law and violations of Syria's sovereignty.
Despite these condemnations, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in February that Israeli forces would remain in the area indefinitely to 'protect Israeli citizens' and 'prevent hostile entities from gaining a foothold' near the border.
Satellite imagery captured in February and analysed by Al Jazeera's Sanad verification unit showed six military bases were being constructed in the UN-supervised buffer zone on the border with Syria.
Since taking power following the overthrow of al-Assad, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has consistently stated that his government seeks no conflict with Israel and will not permit Syria to be used by foreign actors to launch attacks.
He has condemned Israel's continuing strikes on Syrian territory and its gradual expansion beyond the already-occupied Golan Heights.
While Israel's air attacks on Syria have escalated in recent months, Israel has been attacking targets in Syria for years.
ACLED data collected since January 2017 shows how Israeli attacks have been steadily increasing.
The animated chart below shows the frequency of Israeli attacks from January 2017 to May 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
17 minutes ago
- New York Post
Man accused of gathering information on Jews in Berlin for Iran arrested in Denmark, officials say
BERLIN — A man suspected of gathering information on Jewish locations and individuals in Berlin for Iranian intelligence, possibly with a view to carrying out attacks, has been arrested in Denmark, German prosecutors said Tuesday. The Danish national, identified only as Ali S. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested on Thursday in the Danish city of Aarhus, federal prosecutors said in a statement. 4 The Iranian flag flies in front of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Berlin. AP 4 Protestors participate in a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Brabrand outside Aarhus, Denmark, October 13, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images The man was tasked by an Iranian intelligence service early this year with gathering information on 'Jewish localities and specific Jewish individuals' in Berlin, prosecutors said. They didn't elaborate. He spied on three properties in June, 'presumably in preparation of further intelligence activities in Germany, possibly including terrorist attacks on Jewish targets,' prosecutors said. German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig said 'if this suspicion is confirmed, we are dealing with an outrageous operation,' adding in a statement that 'the protection of Jewish life has the highest priority for the German government.' German security authorities stepped up protection for Jewish and Israeli facilities after a 12-day war broke out between Israel and Iran in June. The suspect is accused of working for an intelligence service of a foreign power. The information leading to his arrest came from Germany's domestic intelligence service, prosecutors said. 4 German security authorities stepped up protection for Jewish and Israeli facilities after a 12-day war broke out between Israel and Iran in June. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images 4 A young girl plays hide and seek in the concrete steles of the Holocaust memorial in Berlin. AFP via Getty Images He will be brought before a judge in Germany to determine whether he is kept in custody pending formal charges after extradition from Denmark. It was not immediately clear when that will happen. Germany is a staunch ally of Israel and has a long history of tense relations with Tehran, though it has been one of the three leading European powers trying to engage Iran in diplomacy over its nuclear program. In October, Germany ordered the closure of all three Iranian Consulates in the country in response to the Iranian judiciary's announcement of the execution of Iranian German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd, who lived in the United States and was kidnapped in Dubai in 2020 by Iranian security forces. That left the Islamic Republic with only its embassy in Berlin.
Los Angeles Times
23 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Man accused of gathering information on Jews in Berlin for Iran arrested in Denmark, officials say
BERLIN — A man suspected of gathering information on Jewish locations and individuals in Berlin for Iranian intelligence, possibly with a view to attacks, has been arrested in Denmark, German prosecutors said Tuesday. The Danish national, identified only as Ali S. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested on Thursday in the Danish city of Aarhus, federal prosecutors said in a statement. The man was tasked by an Iranian intelligence service early this year with gathering information on 'Jewish localities and specific Jewish individuals' in Berlin, prosecutors said. They didn't elaborate. He spied on three properties in June, 'presumably in preparation of further intelligence activities in Germany, possibly including terrorist attacks on Jewish targets,' prosecutors said. German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig said that 'if this suspicion is confirmed, we are dealing with an outrageous operation,' adding in a statement that 'the protection of Jewish life has the highest priority for the German government.' German security authorities stepped up protection for Jewish and Israeli facilities after a 12-day war broke out between Israel and Iran in June. The suspect is accused of working for an intelligence service of a foreign power. The information leading to his arrest came from Germany's domestic intelligence service, prosecutors said. He will be brought before a judge in Germany to determine whether he's kept in custody pending formal charges after extradition from Denmark. It wasn't immediately clear when that will happen. Iranian Ambassador Majid Nili Ahmadabadi was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry after prosecutors announced the arrest. The Iranian Embassy in Berlin rejected what it called 'unfounded and dangerous allegations' of an apparent plan for an attack on Jewish facilities. It said in an emailed statement that they 'appear to be part of a deliberate campaign' to divert attention from 'the recent aggression of the Israeli regime against Iranian territory' and the killing of Iranians. Germany is a staunch ally of Israel and has a history of tense relations with Tehran, though it has been one of the three leading European powers trying to engage Iran in diplomacy over its nuclear program. In October, Germany ordered the closure of all three Iranian Consulates in the country in response to the Iranian judiciary's announcement of the execution of Iranian German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd, who lived in the United States and was kidnapped in Dubai in 2020 by Iranian security forces. That left the Islamic Republic with only its embassy in Berlin. Moulson writes for the Associated Press.
Business Insider
25 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Ghana and China trade blame as tensions rise over surging galamsey activities
A growing diplomatic row has erupted between Ghana and China over the contentious issue of illegal gold mining, locally known as galamsey, as both sides trade blame amid a surge in global gold prices and increasing environmental destruction. A diplomatic conflict has escalated between Ghana and China over illegal gold mining, known as galamsey. Ghana alleges Chinese nationals are strongly involved in illicit mining operations, while China's ambassador disputes these accusations. The issue highlights broader questions of complicity, enforcement, and the impact on Ghana-China relations. Ghana, Africa's leading gold producer, has become a hotspot for illicit mining activities, with many of the operations allegedly involving Chinese nationals. While some Ghanaians accuse Chinese actors of fuelling the crisis, China's ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, has rejected the notion that the problem stems solely from Chinese nationals. Chinese Ambassador rejects blame for illegal mining 'The issue did not originate from the Chinese,' Ambassador Tong stated in an interview with local media. 'Some of those who are even caught red-handed are simply migrant workers trying to make a living.' He added that Chinese nationals were unable to obtain mining licences in Ghana and were typically brought in by Ghanaians who facilitated the illegal operations. 'The perception is unfair to me, personally, and to the majority of Chinese nationals here,' Tong added. 'When I post on social media, comments often suggest that galamsey is entirely caused by China, which is a significant injustice.' His comments follow several arrests, including Chinese nationals, during government crackdowns on illegal miners. Ghana's rivers and forests under threat Illegal gold mining has wreaked havoc across Ghana's Western, Ashanti and Eastern regions. Environmentalists warn that the use of toxic chemicals has polluted major rivers and degraded fertile land through rampant deforestation and soil erosion. One of the most prominent examples of Chinese involvement is Aisha Huang, dubbed the 'Galamsey Queen.' She was sentenced in 2023 to 4½ years in prison and fined US$4,000 after returning to Ghana despite a previous deportation. China defends its broader contribution Ambassador Tong defended China's presence in Ghana, highlighting its investments in infrastructure. 'Chinese companies have built numerous buildings, roads and ports,' he said. 'Yet, do ordinary Ghanaians truly recognise these efforts, or do they consistently associate us solely with galamsey?' Ghanaian officials call for tougher measures The Administrator of Ghana's Minerals Development Fund (MDF), Hanna Louisa Bissiw, responded with a firm stance, promising zero tolerance. 'Let me be unequivocally clear: there will be no compromise on what we have to do. It's an absolute 'never',' Bissiw declared. She also noted that during a recent visit to China, officials there expressed support for Ghana's anti-galamsey efforts. Former UN senior governance adviser Baffour Agyeman-Duah said the situation suggests complicity at immigration points. 'Most of the Chinese involved appear to be rural and not highly educated,' he said. 'This implies a deliberate system is in place to recruit and move them through Ghana's borders into mining areas.' University of Ghana professor Gladys Nyarko Ansah criticised the ambassador's rationale. 'Is the ambassador saying that because some Ghanaians engage in stealing, Chinese migrants in Ghana should also engage in stealing?' she asked. Security analyst Ndubuisi Christian Ani, from the Institute for Security Studies, said Ghana must balance its respect for China with accountability. 'Ghana tends to be lenient on arrested Chinese persons involved in illegal mining, partly because of its high regard for China,' he noted. 'But criminal activities must be treated as such to avoid impunity.' As diplomatic tensions flare, the galamsey crisis underscores deeper questions of complicity, enforcement, and geopolitical ties. While both Ghanaian and Chinese actors have roles in the problem, what remains critical is whether both governments will collaborate sincerely to root out illegal mining, or continue pointing fingers as Ghana's land and water resources continue to suffer.
