ISRAELI attacks have targeted military sites in Syria’s coastal Tartous region in the “heaviest strikes” in the area in more than a decade, human rights group warned today.

It came as Israel’s government approved a plan to include the number of illegal settlers occupying the Golan Heights just days after using the ousting of Bashar al-Assad as an opportunity to seize more territory.

The plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will double the number of Israeli settlers living in the region with a budget exceeding 40 million shekels (about £9m).

Israeli troops have entered a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone, violating a 1974 armistice agreement.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry called the move an “entrenchment of the occupation and a blatant violation of international law and relevant UN security council resolutions.”

The ministry emphasised “the necessity of preserving Syria’s unity and territorial integrity.”

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry added that the international community “must show the necessary reaction to Israel and ensure that the illegal activities of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government come to an end.”

Qatar also condemned the decision, calling it “a new episode in a series of Israeli aggressions on Syrian territories.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said today that Israel launched overnight attacks on Syrian air defence systems and ammunition depots in Tartous.

It said “violent explosions” were heard.

Israel also targeted sites in and around Damascus, hitting radar systems and air defence systems.  

Meanwhile, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which now heads the new Syrian administration, said that all armed factions would be disbanded and that only the new Syrian state army would be allowed to carry weapons.

Mr Sharaa said that Syria is in no position to enter any conflict “because there is general exhaustion.”

A UN envoy met with HTS representatives today, while European Union leaders discussed lifting sanctions.

Syria’s Kurdish groups in the semi-autonomous north-east called for an end to military operations “over the entire Syrian territory in order to begin a constructive, comprehensive national dialogue.”

Mr Assad said in an unverified statement today that he had been evacuated to Russia from the Khmeimim air base on the evening of December 8 as it came under drone attacks.

In comments made for the first time since he was overthrown, the ousted leader said he had no initial plans to leave the country after the fall of Damascus.