Overview
- Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire in the village of Koayiah, southern Syria, killed at least six people, with conflicting accounts on whether the victims were civilians or armed individuals.
- Hundreds of families have fled the area, seeking refuge in neighboring villages and olive groves, as clashes between Israeli troops and local residents intensified.
- Israel justifies its actions as necessary to counter threats and protect minority groups like the Druze, while Syrian authorities accuse Israel of violating the 1974 buffer zone agreement.
- The European Union, Jordan, and other international actors have condemned the strikes, warning of potential regional escalation and humanitarian fallout.
- Syria's interim government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has called for Israel's immediate withdrawal from the buffer zone but reiterated it does not intend to engage in direct conflict with Israel.