Israeli Troops Approach Damascus After Attacking Syrian Military Base

JAKARTA - Israel's military attacks on Syria have reached about 25 km (16 miles) southwest of Damascus. Israel previously occupied a buffer zone in southern Syria and launched airstrikes on Syrian military and air bases.

Israel's military operations to Syria came two days after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by a rebel alliance that made the citizens of Syria, regional countries and world powers nervous about what would happen next.

Reported by Reuters on Tuesday, December 10, Syrian security sources said Israeli forces reached Qatata, which is 10 km (six miles) away to Syrian territory to the east of the demilitarized zone separating Israel's occupied Golan Heights from Syria.

Israel says it will not engage in conflict in Syria and the struggle for the buffer zone is a defensive step.

Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemned the attack. Saudi Arabia said the move would "destroy Syrian chances to restore security".

Regional security sources and officers in the now-falling Syrian army said Israel's massive airstrikes continued against military installations and air bases in Syria overnight, destroying dozens of helicopters and jets, as well as Republican Guard assets in and around Damascus.

The rough count of 200 attacks did not leave the slightest asset of the Syrian army.

Israel said its airstrikes would last for days but told the UN Security Council it did not intervene in the Syrian conflict. It has taken limited and temporary measures solely to protect its security.