Israeli airstrikes in central Syria late Sunday night resulted in the deaths of at least seven people, including three civilians. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group with a vast network of sources within the country, reported the casualties.
The strikes, which targeted the Masyaf region, also left at least 15 others injured. According to the Observatory, the attacks destroyed military facilities in the area. They attributed the explosions to “violent explosions” in the zone containing scientific research centers, where pro-Iranian groups and weapons development experts are present.
The Syrian state news agency, Sana, reported an earlier count of five killed and 19 wounded near Masyaf, citing a medical source. They confirmed that Israeli forces conducted the attack from northwestern Lebanon, targeting “a number of military sites” in the central region. Sana also stated that their air defense systems intercepted some missiles.
The Israeli strikes in Syria have intensified since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that ignited the war in Gaza. While Israeli authorities typically refrain from commenting on individual strikes within Syria, they have repeatedly asserted their determination to prevent their arch-enemy, Iran, from extending its presence in the country.
In late August, the Observatory reported the deaths of three pro-Iranian fighters in the central region of Homs, attributed to Israeli strikes. Days later, the Israeli military announced the killing of an unspecified number of fighters affiliated with Hamas ally Islamic Jihad in a strike near the Syrian-Lebanese border.
These recent incidents underscore the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran in Syria, with Israel actively seeking to counter Iran’s growing influence in the war-torn country.
