Amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, reports have emerged of Israeli airstrikes in central Syria, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals and injuries to fifteen others. According to the Syrian news agency SANA, the strikes targeted the Masyaf area, located west of Hama, which is widely believed to serve as a base for Iranian forces and pro-Iranian militias. The director of the Masyaf hospital confirmed the casualty figures, stating that some of the injured are in critical condition, raising concerns of a potential rise in the death toll.
“The number of victims of the Israeli aggression on several sites near Masyaf comes to five deaths and 19 wounded, some of them seriously,” said Faysal Haidar, the director of a government hospital in Masyaf. Following his statement, SANA reported two additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven.
The Masyaf area has been repeatedly targeted in recent years, with most attacks attributed to Israel. The region is home to the Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS or SSRC), which has been alleged by Israel to be used by Iranian forces for the production of precision surface-to-surface missiles. While Israel has yet to comment on the recent strikes, two regional intelligence sources told SANA that the attacks resulted in two fires in the area, which firefighters are working to extinguish.
The strikes come amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, during which Israel has been accused of escalating its attacks on Iranian-backed militia targets in Syria. The Jewish nation has also been accused of targeting Syrian army air defenses and some Syrian forces.
In April of this year, Israel was accused of carrying out the most high-profile attack in Syria since the war began, targeting the Iranian embassy in Damascus with suspected Israeli warplanes. Iran subsequently issued a statement acknowledging the strike, which killed several military advisers, including three senior commanders. In retaliation, Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted by the Jewish nation’s air defense system.
With inputs from agencies.
