3 pro-Iran fighters dead as Israel strikes Hezbollah sites in Syria

Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of three fighters aligned with pro-Iran groups as they targeted Hezbollah-affiliated sites near Damascus, according to a report from a war monitoring organization. These strikes are part of a series of Israeli actions in Syria over the past month, driven by escalating regional tensions following the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Rami Abdel Rahman, who leads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, stated that the airstrikes hit locations near Akraba and Sayyida Zeinab, resulting in the fatalities of three non-Syrian fighters associated with Iran-backed groups. Akraba is home to a military airport situated more than 10 kilometers away from Damascus International Airport.

In addition to these strikes, Israel also targeted Syrian air defense installations in the southern province of Sweida, according to the same monitoring group with sources within Syria. Syrian state media reported that these Israeli airstrikes caused material damage to military sites in southern Syria.

Official news agency SANA quoted a military source, stating, “At approximately 22:50 pm today, the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack from the direction of Baalbek in Lebanon, targeting some military points in the southern region, causing some material losses.”

The recent surge in hostilities began on October 7 when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel. Israeli officials claim that this attack resulted in approximately 1,400 casualties, primarily civilians, and the seizure of 239 hostages. In response, Israel initiated a sustained campaign of bombardment and ground invasion in the Gaza Strip. According to the health ministry in Gaza, more than 10,500 people, mostly civilians, have died as a result.

Over the past month, Israeli airstrikes temporarily disrupted operations at Syria’s two major airports in Damascus and Aleppo on multiple occasions. Throughout the Syrian civil war, which has spanned more than a decade, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria, primarily targeting Hezbollah fighters, other Iran-backed groups, and Syrian military positions.

It is worth noting that Israel seldom comments on specific airstrikes in Syria but has consistently expressed its opposition to Iran expanding its influence in the region, particularly through support for President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria.