Israeli Airstrikes on Syria: 16 Killed, Including Civilians

On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes in Syria’s Hama countryside resulted in at least 16 deaths, including five civilians, according to reports from Syrian state media. This incident marks the deadliest Israeli action reported by Syrian authorities since an airstrike on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus in April, which triggered a response from Tehran involving drones and missiles.

The strikes were aimed at a military research center near the city of Misyaf, injuring at least 36 individuals, with several in critical condition. Syrian air defenses reportedly engaged in a response, addressing what was described as an aggression targeting multiple locations in the central Syrian region.

The airstrike caused considerable damage, impacting a highway in Hama province and igniting fires that firefighting teams were still battling early Monday morning. Fayssal Haidard, the director of Masyaf National Hospital, stated that the “Israeli aggression” resulted in the loss of five civilian lives.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported hearing 13 loud explosions in the area housing scientific research centers in Misyaf, where pro-Iranian groups and experts in weapon development are believed to be present.

Israel has been conducting strikes in Syria for years, targeting what it claims are Iranian or Iran-backed facilities. Iranian forces and militias allied with Tehran have supported President Bashar al-Assad’s regime throughout the Syrian civil war, and Israel has intensified its military operations since the October 7 attack by Hamas inside Israel. That assault left around 1,200 dead, primarily civilians, and involved the abduction of about 250 individuals; currently, around 100 hostages are still trapped in Gaza, with many thought to have perished amidst the conflict.

The ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, extending over nearly 11 months, have reportedly resulted in over 40,000 casualties, according to Palestinian health officials. Additionally, about 90% of Gaza’s population, which numbers 2.3 million, have been displaced, often multiple times due to the intensity of the conflict.

The surge in Israeli strikes included the assault on the Iranian embassy compound in April, which led to the deaths of senior Iranian commanders, including a prominent general. Israel has maintained its commitment to counteracting Iranian influence in Syria, primarily since this aligns with its efforts to disrupt Iran’s supply routes to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Both Hamas and Hezbollah receive backing from Iran.

During the ongoing war in Gaza, Hezbollah has been engaged in frequent skirmishes with Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border, resulting in nearly daily exchanges of rocket fire and threats of further escalation. Following the latest strikes in Syria, there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Although Israel has conducted numerous strikes in Syria in recent years, it rarely acknowledges or elaborates on these operations.

Soon before 11:20 PM local time, the Syrian news agency reported a military source stating, “The enemy launched an air aggression from the direction of northwest Lebanon, targeting a number of military sites in the central region.” The source noted that some missiles were intercepted by Syrian air defenses.

Two regional intelligence sources indicated that a significant military research center associated with chemical weapons production near Misyaf was targeted multiple times. However, a senior military figure close to both Damascus and Tehran refuted claims regarding the facility’s nature, insisting that the site in question was a recognized Syrian research center.

The strikes inflicted material damage on the Masyaf-Wadi al-Uyun highway and ignited a fire in the Hair Abbas area. The Syrian foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a blatant act of aggression, labeling them a violation that resulted in the deaths and injuries as well as significant damage to residential areas.

Iran’s foreign ministry expressed strong condemnation of the attack, describing it as a criminal act. Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated, “We do not confirm the reports from media outlets linked to [Israel] regarding an attack on an Iranian center or one under Iran’s protection.”

Source: The Associated Press