Early on Monday, areas around the Syrian capital city of Damascus were hit by suspected Israeli airstrikes. As reported by Syrian state media, at least four Syrian soldiers have lost their lives in the attack.
According to a military source, four other soldiers were reportedly wounded at around 2:20 am. Syrian state television reported that the airstrikes caused “some material damage as well”.
No comments were made immediately by Israeli authorities about the airstrikes.
What happened?
Syrian media identified three of the fatalities as Maj. Issa Taha Hammoud, Lt. Lu’ayy Bassam Muhammad, and Lt. Ahmed Marei. No immediate information was given on the positions of the soldiers.
According to an AFP correspondent in Damascus, the sound of explosions shook the city. Online footage, either from missile strikes or air defense projectiles, showed bright flashes lighting up the sky.
At least six explosions could be heard in an unverified video apparently taken from near the targeted site. The screaming of jets could be heard and fireballs in the sky could be seen in the video.
SANA media outlet reported that Syrian defenses knocked down “some” of the Israeli missiles. Though military analysts doubt the assertions, Syria regularly claims to intercept Israeli projectiles.
What do human rights groups say?
Israeli airstrikes have killed several Syrian soldiers serving in air defense units in recent years.
Although Syria regularly claims to intercept Israeli missiles, military analysts doubt such assertions.
An opposition-linked war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that the strikes targeted Iran-backed militias and their ammunition warehouses. SOHR says at least six were killed and seven others wounded.
The airstrike marks Israel’s 22nd attack on Syria this year, killing 59 people, according to the Human Rights Observatory. 24 of the dead were regime soldiers, and 22 were part of militias affiliated with Iran, it said.
According to the human rights monitor, six members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and two civilians have also been killed in Israeli strikes.
What does Israel say?
As a rule, the Israeli military does not comment on specific strikes in Syria. However, over the past decade, it has admitted to conducting hundreds of attacks against Iran-backed groups that try to gain power in the country.
The military also claims to attack arms shipments to such groups, for example, Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Syrian air defense systems have attributed repeated targeted airstrikes to Israel. Over the past few years, Israel has targeted the international airports in Damascus and the city of Aleppo in northern Syria, often putting them out of service.
Israeli strikes in Syria have doubled under the new government, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said.
Why does Israel attack Syria?
The civil war broke out in 2011 in Syria. Since then, Iran’s influence has grown in the region. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has the full support of the Shi’ite country.
Israel does not comment on the air strikes in Syria regularly. However, it has reiterated its disapproval of its nemesis, Iran, to expand its footprint there.
Notably, Hezbollah is a Shia terrorist organization supported by Iran that mostly operates in southern Lebanon. The organization was founded during the 15-year Lebanese Civil War and has been at war with Israel by aiding Palestinian factions and their cause.
