Israeli Occupation Persists in Violating Rights and Instilling Fear Among Civilians

Israeli occupation forces launched a new airstrike on Khan Arnabeh in southern Syria on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as part of an ongoing military campaign targeting Syrian territory.

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and a growing threat to regional stability.

The latest strike is part of a broader pattern of intensified Israeli air raids. Since March 10, WJWC has documented repeated bombardments across multiple Syrian governorates, including Daraa, Quneitra, Damascus, and As-Suwayda. One of the deadliest assaults occurred on March 17, when an Israeli airstrike near Daraa killed three people, according to Syrian government reports. Days earlier, on March 13, Israeli forces shelled a residential building in the Dummar Project area of Damascus, injuring four civilians, including two women, and causing widespread destruction.

Alongside aerial strikes, Israel has escalated its ground operations in Syria. Since early March, WJWC has recorded more than ten incursions into Quneitra province, where Israeli forces have established checkpoints, detained civilians, and conducted interrogations. These incursions, WJWC emphasized, violate international law and the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against sovereign states.

The conflict further intensified when Israeli forces moved into the demilitarized zone on December 8, 2024, following the destruction of Syrian military vehicles and equipment in earlier airstrikes. The occupation’s seizure of Mount Hermon effectively nullified the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, marking a dangerous escalation in the ongoing hostilities.

WJWC stressed that beyond military confrontations, Israeli violations endanger civilians and destabilize Syria. The Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits attacks that instill fear among civilian populations, yet Israeli forces continue to target residential areas and vital infrastructure.

Calling for urgent intervention, WJWC urged the international community to take immediate action to halt Israel’s ongoing violations and ensure accountability. The organization also called on UN bodies and human rights organizations to investigate these breaches, document the escalating aggression, and hold those responsible to account.