FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 16, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the early hours of Wednesday, July 16, Israeli forces launched a series of airstrikes in Syria targeting key government and civilian infrastructure in and around Damascus. This marks one of the most severe escalations of Israeli aggression since the fall of the Assad regime. The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) unequivocally condemns these attacks as a blatant violation of international law, Syrian sovereignty, and the safety of civilians. Today’s strikes by Israel showcase the actions led by the Netanyahu government that continue to divide and push the region into war.
In just the past seven months, Israeli forces have launched about one thousand air and artillery attacks, conducted over four hundred ground incursions, and occupied approximately 180 square kilometers of Syrian land. Despite this deeply concerning escalation that further pushes the region into war led by the Israeli government, the Syrian government has refrained from retaliatory attacks, opting instead to pursue diplomatic channels. It has submitted two formal complaints to the United Nations Security Council and has intercepted 49 Hezbollah weapons shipments in an effort to de-escalate tensions and prevent further regional militarization.
Israel’s stated justification for these strikes, citing the protection of the Druze community, is neither credible nor does it legitimize the indiscriminate use of force for the destruction of critical infrastructure. These criminal attacks have endangered civilian lives and obstruct the path toward peace and recovery in Syria. Far from ensuring security, they are part of a broader campaign to destabilize and fragment sovereign Syria and to weaken the state’s ability to maintain order through dialogue, as it has been doing since the fall of the Assad regime.
SETF calls on the international community and the United States government to publicly condemn Israel’s aggression and demand an immediate halt to its military operations inside Syria. SETF also calls on the United Nations to launch an investigation into these violations and uphold the principles of international law and civilian protection. SETF also calls on the Syrian government to investigate any incidents of violence or abuse by any armed individuals and factions, reiterating the importance of dialogue with all ethnic groups and sects in Syria, including the Druze and Alawites.
For inquiries, please contact:
Maria Cure, Director of Communications
[email protected] www.setf.ngo
About the Syrian Emergency Task Force
The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) is a Syrian-American 501(c)(3) headquartered in Washington, D.C. Dedicated to advancing Syria’s future after the fall of the Assad regime, SETF supports a democratic transition, leads humanitarian efforts, and works to secure justice and accountability for war crimes committed by the regime and its allies. Today, SETF stands as the most notable American organization working on Syria, as evidenced by the impact it has made both on the ground in Syria and the U.S. SETF serves as a resource for education by bringing the voices of the Syrian people to the international stage. From testimonies at the UN Security Council to local grassroots community fundraisers, the team brings together like-minded people who are committed to rebuilding a peaceful, democratic Syria after enduring years of brutality under a repressive dictatorship.
