5.2.2. Israel

Israel continued to occupy the UNDOF zone, several adjoining areas inside Syria and the summit of Mount Hermon,783 and to call for a complete demilitarisation of southern Syria.784 In the context of the sectarian violence which erupted in late April between the Druze and local Sunni groups in Sweida and Rural Damascus, Israel escalated its military involvement, carrying out airstrikes against the Syrian interim government under the pretext of protecting the Druze minority. This justification was firmly rejected by Syria’s Druze community, which condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty. Israeli airstrikes targeted military sites in Rural Damascus, Dar’a, Latakia, western Hama and in Damascus near the Presidential Palace. Daily military incursions of Israeli forces were reported in Dar’a and Quneitra governorates.785 Israeli attacks in Syria led to civilian casualties particularly in southern Syria.786
 

• 5.2.3.    US-led coalition
• 5.2.4.    Russia