Israeli fighter jets targeted what they claimed were sites linked to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and 16 injuries, including women and children. The strikes occurred in the al-Mezzeh neighborhood, as reported by the Syrian state media outlet SANA. The Israeli military described their operation as having “inflicted significant damage” to a command center tied to the Iranian-backed militia.
This recent escalation underscores a long-standing strategy by Israel, which has conducted air operations in Syria over the years to deter Iranian influence and the activities of armed groups such as Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Despite this ongoing military campaign, Israel typically refrains from commenting on specific strikes. However, officials have become more open about their operations in recent times.
Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff of the Israeli military, stated that these deep strikes serve to impede the transfer of weaponry to Hezbollah and bolster their defensive actions along the Syria-Lebanon border. Concurrent Iranian news reports indicated that one missile strike in Damascus coincided with a meeting between prominent Iranian official Ali Larijani and the director of Syria’s National Security Committee, although Larijani was reported unharmed.
As violence persists, the repercussions on local populations raise critical humanitarian concerns, highlighting the ongoing conflict's toll on civilians caught in the crossfire.
