In the deadliest Israeli airstrike on Syrian territory since April, 16 people were killed and dozens wounded in overnight attacks on western Syria, Syrian state media reported on Monday. The strikes reportedly targeted military sites, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
According to Syria’s state-run news agency SANA, the strikes were launched around 11:20 p.m. (2020 GMT) and aimed at military positions in the central region. While Syrian air defenses intercepted some of the incoming missiles, 36 people were injured, with six in critical condition.
Though Israel has not officially commented on the attack, which is typical in such instances, two regional intelligence sources indicated that a major military research facility, believed to be associated with chemical weapons production and located near Masyaf in Hama province, was hit multiple times. The facility reportedly housed Iranian military experts involved in weapons development. However, a senior military source linked to Damascus and Tehran denied the claims, stating that the site was a known research center, not a chemical weapons facility.
Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, labeling it a “blatant act of aggression” that caused damage to residential areas. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani also condemned the strikes, calling them a “criminal attack” but denying reports that the target was an Iranian facility or one under Iran’s protection.
Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes over the years, primarily targeting Iranian and Iran-backed forces stationed in Syria, who have supported President Bashar al-Assad’s regime throughout the civil war. These airstrikes have intensified following the October 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel. Earlier this year, in April, Israeli airstrikes hit the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus, killing senior Iranian military commanders, including a top general from Tehran.
The latest strikes also caused fires in the region, which firefighters were working to extinguish, according to Syrian state media.
