Pakistan, July 15 -- Israeli airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon have killed at least 12 people, according to regional and international sources. The strikes targeted Syrian government forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in what Israel described as an operation to secure its northern borders.

In Syria, the attacks focused on the Suwayda region, a stronghold of the Druze minority, following days of sectarian clashes between Bedouin groups and local Druze militias. The new Syrian government, which replaced Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, said it had deployed troops to restore order, but those forces later clashed with local fighters-prompting two consecutive days of Israeli air raids.

Israel claims strong ties with its own Druze co...