In a recent incident that has drawn significant attention, Syria’s foreign ministry strongly condemned a suspected Israeli airstrike targeting an apartment building in Damascus, alleging that the assault resulted in the deaths of seven civilians. Can you provide more details about the casualties from this tragic event?
The foreign ministry reported that among those killed were women and children, emphasizing that the strike hit the Mezzeh neighborhood, home to the Iranian embassy and several diplomatic facilities. However, the Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident.
Additionally, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported a higher death toll, claiming that 13 individuals lost their lives, including nine civilians and two Hezbollah members, who are key allies of both Iran and the Syrian government. Could you elaborate on the significance of this location in relation to Iran’s influence?
The UK-based monitoring group noted that the building was frequently visited by leaders of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” Furthermore, a military source cited by Syria’s state news agency Sana indicated that Israeli aircraft fired three missiles at the building from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights. Can you describe the extent of the damage resulting from this strike?
Witnesses have described severe damage to the first three floors of the building. One resident, 61-year-old electrician Adel Habib, recounted his experience during the explosion, sharing, “I was on my way home when the explosion occurred. Communications and electricity were cut off, and I couldn’t reach my family. Those five minutes felt like an eternity until I finally heard my wife, children, and grandchildren.”
The Syrian Observatory has identified some of the deceased civilians, including a Yemeni doctor, his wife, and their three children, as well as a woman and her child, a female doctor, and a man. Interestingly, Iran’s embassy has claimed that no Iranian citizens were among the casualties. What does this imply about Iran’s role in the region?
Moreover, reports indicate that the day after this incident, a member of the Syrian security forces was killed in another Israeli strike near Quneitra. This follows a previous Israeli strike in Mezzeh last week, which reportedly killed the son-in-law of the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. How might these escalating events influence the existing tensions in the region?
Israel has publicly acknowledged that it has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria over recent years, targeting sites it associates with Iran and allied groups such as Hezbollah. Notably, these strikes have increased since the war in Gaza began last October, in response to cross-border attacks on northern Israel.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there have been 104 Israeli air and artillery attacks on Syrian territory since the start of the year, leading to at least 296 deaths and damaging or destroying around 190 targets, including weapon depots and militia headquarters. How do you interpret the escalation of hostilities between Israel and its allied groups in the region?
