Israel Hits Targets In Syria
BEIRUT, Lebanon (WHN) – Israeli missiles struck targets on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus early Friday, Syrian state media reported, in an attack a war monitor said targeted sites linked to Iran-backed groups. Syrian air defenses were activated. The strikes represent the latest in a series of Israeli operations aimed at curbing Iranian influence in the war-torn country.
Syria’s official SANA news agency, citing a military source, said the “Israeli aggression” occurred at approximately 1:20 a.m. local time. The source claimed that Syrian air defense systems intercepted most of the “hostile missiles.” Material damage was reported at several locations, per the initial statement.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition war monitor, offered a more detailed account. It stated the strikes hit weapons and ammunition depots belonging to Iran-backed militias operating south of Damascus. The group reported at least three Syrian soldiers and two non-Syrian fighters allied with the government were killed, with several others wounded.
Residents in Damascus reported hearing loud explosions that shook neighborhoods across the capital. Videos circulating on social media, which WHN could not immediately verify, showed bright flashes in the night sky followed by the sound of blasts. Emergency services were seen responding to the impacted areas.
The Israeli military has not commented on the specific operation. This is consistent with its long-standing policy regarding actions in Syria.
Israel has, however, acknowledged conducting hundreds of strikes in recent years. Its stated objective is to prevent its arch-foe Iran from establishing a significant military foothold in Syria. Israel also aims to stop advanced weapons shipments to allied groups, particularly Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Friday’s attack follows a similar incident last month that targeted the vicinity of Damascus International Airport, an area frequently alleged by Western intelligence to be a logistics hub for Iranian materiel. These operations have often been carried out with precision, targeting military infrastructure used by forces supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry is expected to issue a formal condemnation and appeal to the United Nations Security Council, a standard diplomatic response to such attacks. Immediate reactions from other regional or international powers were not available. Russia, a key military ally of the Assad government, maintains a significant presence in Syria and has previously criticized Israeli strikes as a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
“The targets included a scientific research center previously hit by Israel, which is believed to be involved in military development,” the Observatory’s director told news agencies.
This claim could not be independently confirmed. Iranian and Syrian officials have consistently denied that Iranian forces are operating in an offensive capacity within Syria, stating their presence is purely advisory.
Damage assessments at the targeted sites are ongoing, the SOHR report noted.
