In an early morning strike on Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in the Kafr Sousa district of Damascus, Syria, resulting in two fatalities. Syrian state media, alongside a security source, confirmed the incident, which occurred around 9:40 a.m. local time (0640 GMT), also causing injuries to several individuals. The casualties were identified as civilians by a military source cited by Syrian state TV, which also aired images depicting the severe damage to the multi-storey building, including a charred exterior.
The Kafr Sousa neighborhood, known for housing not only residential buildings and schools but also Iranian cultural centers, is situated close to a significant security complex. This district was previously targeted in an Israeli attack in February 2023, which resulted in the deaths of Iranian military experts.
Syrian state media has not officially confirmed the identities of those killed. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based war monitor, indicated that the deceased were inside an apartment, though their identities remain unspecified. SOHR drew parallels between this strike and the recent killing in Beirut of Saleh al-Arouri, a high-ranking Hamas official, suggesting a pattern in Israeli targeting practices.
This latest airstrike is part of a broader series of Israeli actions in Syria, with SOHR documenting 13 attacks on Syrian territory since the year’s start, including both airstrikes and ground-launched rocket attacks. These operations have reportedly resulted in the destruction of nearly 31 targets, with 31 fighters killed and 13 injured. The United States and Israel have historically targeted Iran-linked entities in Syria, aiming to counter Tehran’s growing influence since it supported President Bashar al-Assad’s regime during the Syrian civil war that began in 2011.
Israel, while not officially commenting on this specific incident, has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria since the civil conflict erupted. These strikes have intensified following a significant attack from the Gaza Strip by Hamas on October 7. The Israeli military’s operations are part of a strategic effort to mitigate Iran-backed threats within the region, amidst concerns of escalating tensions and the potential for new fronts in the ongoing conflict with Iran-supported groups.
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