JERUSALEM (VINnews) —The IDF spokesperson announced on Thursday that the Air Force was behind the strike in Syria, just minutes after the Defense Minister took responsibility for the Thursday morning operation and issued a warning to Joulani.
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The IDF spokesperson described the attack, stating that the target was a building belonging to the Islamic Jihad organization, from which attacks against Israeli soldiers on the Syrian border were being planned.
The IDF also promised to continue targeting various Palestinian terror organizations and made it clear that Israel would not allow these groups to re-establish themselves.
The spokesperson stated:
“A short while ago, Air Force fighter jets, directed by the Northern Command and the Intelligence Directorate, struck a terrorist headquarters of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in Damascus, from which terror operations were planned and managed.
“The IDF will not allow terrorist organizations to establish a foothold in Syrian territory and operate against Israel. It will act forcefully against any such attempts.”
“The IDF will continue to strike Palestinian terror organizations wherever necessary and will keep working to protect the citizens of Israel.”
לפני זמן קצר, מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר, בהכוונת פיקוד הצפון ואגף המודיעין תקפו מפקדת טרור של ארגון הטרור גא״פ בשטח דמשק, ממנה תכננו וניהלו פעולות טרור של הארגון.
צה״ל לא יאפשר לארגוני טרור להתבסס בשטח סוריה ולפעול כנגד מדינת ישראל ויפעל בעוצמה כנגד כל התבססות שכזאת>> pic.twitter.com/SHrMbQCbgU
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 13, 2025
Earlier, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz addressed the strike in Syria, taking responsibility for the event:
“Islamic terrorism against Israel will have no immunity — not in Damascus and not anywhere else,” Gallant declared.
“Wherever terror activity against Israel is organized, the leader of radical Islam, Joulani, will find Air Force jets circling overhead, striking the terror targets.”
“We will not allow Syria to become a threat to the State of Israel,” the Defense Ministry stated.
Videos and photos circulating on Arab social media showed several people being evacuated from the destroyed building, which appeared to be completely demolished from the impact.
This was Israel’s second attack against Syrian targets this week.
On Monday, Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out airstrikes in southern Syria, hitting dozens of targets — including radars and detection systems used to build an aerial intelligence picture, as well as command centers and military sites containing weapons and military equipment belonging to the old Syrian regime in southern Syria.
A total of 22 fighter jets participated in the strike, dropping over 60 munitions across southern Syria.
