The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, issued a statement on Wednesday condemning "the criminal Israeli aggression on Syrian territory, as well as the occupation's ground incursion into the countryside of Daraa and Quneitra.

The deadly strikes came as Hamas confirmed an agreement, under Egyptian mediation, to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages.

Qatar-funded Al Jazeera provided a platform to two Hamas officials on its panels at the media organization’s recent annual conference. One speaker, Osama Hamdan, praised the October 7 massacre in Israel and the “philosophy of resistance.

The attacks in southern Syria are part of a new policy aimed at protecting what Israel calls its “security zone” in the region. Syria’s new government has condemned that policy.

To contain Turkey, Israeli officials have sought to persuade US officials that Russia should keep its Mediterranean naval base in Syria's Tartus province and its Hmeimim air base in Latakia province, the sources said.

Hamas says it will return the bodies of four dead Israeli hostages on Thursday in exchange for Israel’s release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas was plotting a major attack on Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed on Thursday during a meeting with the heads of regional councils. He also reiterated demands for a demilitarized southern Syria and noted that the government is considering allowing Syrian Druze to work in the Golan.

Jordan's King Abdullah and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa agreed on Wednesday to work together to secure their common border against arms and drug trafficking, officials said.