A police officer at the site of a rocket impact near the Golan Heights community of Ramat Magshimim, shortly after two rockets were fired from Syria, June 3, 2025. (Israel Police)
| Published June 5, 2025
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two rockets were launched from southern Syria into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, marking the first such incident since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The projectiles landed in open areas, causing no casualties or damage. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted airstrikes targeting Syrian military positions in the Daraa and Quneitra regions. The IDF holds the Syrian government, led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, responsible for any aggression emanating from its territory. Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that Israel would not tolerate threats from Syria and would respond decisively to any acts of aggression.
A previously unknown group, the Mohammed Deif Brigades, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire via Telegram. The group’s legitimacy remains unverified, and it is unclear whether it operates independently or is affiliated with larger organizations. The Syrian government has not confirmed the rocket launch and has condemned the Israeli retaliatory strikes, stating that Syria does not pose a threat to any regional party and calling for the elimination of armed groups in southern Syria.
This incident occurs amid broader regional tensions, including Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and missile interceptions from Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The situation underscores the fragile security dynamics in the Golan Heights and the complexities of regional alliances and hostilities.
Here are the key implications of the rocket fire from Syria and Israel’s retaliatory strikes:
1. Increased Regional Tensions
The rocket launch from Syria marks a troubling escalation in a volatile area, signaling that militant groups may be gaining strength or boldness in southern Syria. This risks dragging Syria—and potentially its allies—deeper into conflict with Israel.
2. Proxy Dynamics and Militants’ Role
The involvement of the Mohammed Deif Brigades, possibly linked to Hamas or other militant factions, illustrates how non-state actors are complicating the already fragile balance. Their actions could provoke broader responses from Israel, Hezbollah, or Iran-backed groups.
3. Challenge to Syrian Government Control
The Syrian government’s denial and condemnation of the rocket fire highlight its limited control over southern territories, which remain a hotspot for armed groups. This weakens Damascus’s position and may invite further Israeli military actions under the pretext of self-defense.
4. Potential for Wider Conflict
With simultaneous tensions involving Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen, this incident raises the risk of a multi-front escalation involving several regional actors, increasing the complexity for Israel and its allies to respond effectively.
5. Impact on Diplomatic Efforts
These military exchanges could derail ongoing or future diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the region, as heightened hostilities tend to harden positions and reduce incentives for negotiation.
Overall Takeaway:
The recent rocket fire from Syria into Israel—and the swift Israeli retaliation—highlights a dangerous reawakening of tensions in the Golan Heights region, revealing how southern Syria remains a breeding ground for militant activity. The emergence of the previously unknown Mohammed Deif Brigades suggests that new or rebranded militant actors are exploiting Syria’s post-Assad instability, potentially drawing Israel into broader confrontations.
Amid wider regional flare-ups involving Lebanon and Yemen, this incident reflects a fragmented Middle East security landscape, where unverified militant provocations can rapidly escalate into state-level military responses. It underscores Israel’s resolve to hold Damascus accountable, even if the Syrian government claims no involvement—an approach that may fuel a cycle of accusation and escalation in an already fragile region.
SOURCES: TIMES OF ISRAEL – Unrecognized Syrian militia claims responsibility for rocket fire on Israel, says it’s only the start
THE NEW ARAB – Syria FM condemns Israeli strikes after rocket fire claimed by Hamas-linked group
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