Israeli Strikes Kill Three Pro-Iran Fighters in Syria

An airstrike carried out by Israel on Friday in Syria targeted positions held by the Syrian army and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, resulting in the deaths of three fighters backed by Iran, according to a war monitor.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, reported that the strikes led to the deaths of three pro-Iranian fighters and injured approximately ten others. The targeted sites included makeshift petrol stations linked to Hezbollah in the Homs countryside, weapons depots belonging to the group, and two Syrian army locations in the Hama countryside.

The Syrian defense ministry stated that the attacks also injured seven civilians. They noted that the Israeli airstrike was launched around 7:35 pm local time from the direction of northern Lebanon, focusing on several sites in Syria’s central region.

Israel has conducted numerous strikes in Syria since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, primarily aiming at the Syrian army and Iran-backed forces. The frequency of these raids increased after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, which led to intensified conflict in Gaza. The strikes had lessened after an April 1 attack, attributed to Israel, struck the Iranian consular building in Damascus, killing two generals from the Revolutionary Guard.

However, tensions have flared again following the recent killings of two senior Iran-backed militants, leading to threats of retaliation from Tehran and its allies, who hold Israel responsible. While Israeli authorities typically refrain from commenting on specific strikes in Syria, they have consistently expressed their determination to prevent Iran from expanding its influence in the region.