At least 18 killed, including civilians, in Israeli airstrikes on Syria

At least 18 individuals have lost their lives following an Israeli airstrike on Syria’s Hama province, according to Syria’s health minister. This incident marks the most lethal Israeli attack reported by Syrian authorities since the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus was struck earlier in April, an event that prompted a retaliatory wave of drones and missiles from Tehran.

Hassan al-Ghabbash, the Syrian health minister, characterized the airstrikes as a “brutal and barbaric aggression.” He reported that the death toll had risen to 18, with nearly 40 people injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, provided a higher casualty figure, claiming that 25 individuals were killed, including at least five civilians. The other fatalities included soldiers from the Syrian army and members of Hezbollah, along with other Iran-linked armed factions.

According to reports, a series of 13 explosions were heard in the Masyaf area, which is known to host scientific research centers associated with pro-Iranian groups and experts in weapon development. Syrian air defenses were said to have engaged incoming threats targeting several sites throughout the central region, as noted by the SANA news agency.

The airstrike also resulted in damage to a highway in Hama province, igniting fires that firefighting teams were still struggling to extinguish as of early Monday. Fayssal Haidard, the director of Masyaf National Hospital, confirmed that the “Israeli aggression” had resulted in the deaths of five civilians.

For years, Israel has been conducting operations targeting what it describes as Iranian or Iran-affiliated assets in Syria. These actions have been intensified following the deadly Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, which led to widespread conflict in Gaza. This attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, most of whom were civilians, and the abduction of approximately 250 people. Current estimates suggest that around 100 hostages are still in Gaza, with about a third presumed dead.

The ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza have reportedly claimed over 40,000 lives, as per Palestinian health officials, and have resulted in the displacement of about 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with many experiencing multiple displacements.

The surge in military operations included the notable April 1 strike that targeted the Iranian embassy compound, which resulted in the deaths of high-ranking Iranian commanders, including a top general from Tehran.

Israel remains steadfast in its commitment to preventing Iranian entrenchment in Syria, viewing the country as a critical route for Iran to supply weaponry to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Both Hamas and Hezbollah receive backing from Iran.

Hezbollah has been actively engaged with Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border throughout the ongoing Gaza conflict, with near-daily exchanges of rocket fire and escalating threats.

As of now, there has been no immediate response from the Israeli military concerning the recent airstrikes in Syria. Israel has executed hundreds of airstrikes in Syria over the past years but has seldom acknowledged or commented on the operations.

A military source told Syrian state media that the “enemy launched an air aggression from the direction of northwest Lebanon, targeting a number of military sites in the central region.” Reports indicate that Syrian air defenses successfully intercepted some missiles during the incident.

Two regional intelligence sources have indicated that a major scientific research facility, purportedly linked to chemical arms production, was among the sites hit multiple times near Misyaf. However, a senior military source aligned with Damascus and Tehran refuted claims that the target was a chemical weapons facility, asserting instead that it was a known Syrian research establishment.

Furthermore, Syrian media reported that the airstrikes caused substantial damage to the Masyaf-Wadi al-Uyun highway and ignited a fire in the Hair Abbas area. The Syrian foreign ministry condemned the attack, labeling it a blatant act of aggression. In addition to the reported fatalities and injuries, the attack allegedly resulted in material damage to several residential regions.

The Iranian government has also condemned the “criminal attack.” Nasser Kanaani, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, stated that they do not affirm reports from media outlets connected to Israel concerning an attack on an Iranian facility or one under Iran’s protection.

Source: Associated Press and Reuters