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A barrage of suspected Israeli strikes has brought Syria to its knees, claiming the lives of at least 18 people. The state news agency reports widespread devastation, as the country grapples with the aftermath of the coordinated attacks. As tensions continue, concerns mount over the potential for further bloodshed.
According to the state-run news agency Sana, Hassan al-Ghabbash reported that Sunday night’s attacks in the Masyaf area of Hama province resulted in 37 injuries, in addition to the fatalities.
According to a UK-based monitoring group, the attacks resulted in 26 fatalities and targeted a scientific research center near Masyaf, which was allegedly involved in weapons development.
Israel’s military remained tight-lipped about the strikes, reported by foreign media, as Syria’s foreign ministry denounced the action as “blatant aggression” and Iran’s foreign ministry labeled it a “criminal attack”.
Notably, Israel has previously claimed responsibility for conducting numerous strikes in Syria, targeting sites allegedly tied to Iran, its arch-nemesis, and associated armed groups, highlighting its ongoing campaign against Iranian influence in the region.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October last year, Israel has reportedly intensified its airstrikes, responding to a surge in cross-border attacks from Lebanon and Syria, perpetrated by Hezbollah and other groups, targeting northern Israel.
Read also: 3 Israelis Killed In Shooting At West Jordan Border Crossing
According to Sana’s report, which cited a Syrian military source, Israeli warplanes flying over northwestern Lebanon launched a missile attack on several military sites in the central region at approximately 23:20 local time (20:20 GMT) on Sunday, targeting key military installations.
“Our air defence shot down some missiles,” the military source added.
In addition to the military targets, the strikes also damaged the Masyaf-Wadi al-Oyoun highway and caused a fire to break out in the forested Hair Abbas area, as reported by the news agency.
In a subsequent statement, the Syrian foreign ministry alleged that the attack had targeted “several residential areas”, while local authorities reported damage to critical infrastructure, including a fibre optic cable beneath the highway and a high-voltage power line, as reported by Sana.
Al-Ikhbariya al-Suriyah TV, a state-controlled television network, broadcast footage allegedly showing a damaged building in Tartous, a port city west of Masyaf, providing a glimpse into the attack’s destructive power.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group with on-the-ground sources, reported that Israeli strikes resulted in the destruction of buildings and military facilities in key areas, including the scientific research hub in Masyaf, the Masyaf-Wadi al-Oyoun highway, and Hair Abbas.
