- By Imran Zafar
- Mon, 09 Sep 2024 06:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Israeli military carried out multiple airstrikes in western Syria killing 16 people and injuring 36 others overnight, Syrian state media reported on Monday. The strikes occurred around 11:20 pm local time, targeting several military sites in the central region, Syrian state news agency SANA said. Notably, these airstrikes mark the deadliest attack in the country since an April strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
Israeli officials have not commented on the attack, which is consistent with their usual silence regarding operations in Syria. The attack hit a major military research centre near Masyaf in Hama province, which is believed to be involved in weapons production with Iranian military experts, news agency Reuters reported citing sources.
Syrian air defences reportedly intercepted some of the missiles, but the strikes still caused significant damage. The Syrian foreign ministry condemned the strikes, calling them an act of ''blatant aggression,'' and reported material damage to residential areas.
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Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, also condemned the attack, labelling it a "criminal act." Kanaani denied media reports that the target was an Iranian centre or one under Iranian protection.
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Israeli airstrikes have long targeted what they describe as Iranian or Iran-backed forces in Syria, which have been active in the country since the civil war to support President Bashar al-Assad. The strikes have intensified following Hamas's attack on Israel from Gaza on October 7. The April 1 airstrike, which killed senior Iranian military commanders in Damascus, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
(With Reuters Inputs)