Moscow Condemns “Unacceptable” Israeli Strikes on Syria

Moscow has voiced strong objections to recent Israeli air raids on Syria, branding them as entirely inadmissible after reports emerged that an attack had resulted in over 40 fatalities.

Russia, which stands as a principal ally to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, has played a significant role in the Syrian conflict, offering military support to the government.

“The aggressive behavior towards the Syrian Arab Republic, undermining the nation’s sovereignty and violating international law’s core principles, is utterly indefensible,” stated Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry.

Russia expressed deep disapproval of these forceful actions, warning of their potential to severely escalate tensions in the region, particularly affecting the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK and with a network of informants within Syria, recent Israeli airstrikes in northern Syria resulted in the deaths of 36 soldiers and six Hezbollah fighters.

When approached by AFP for comment, the Israeli military chose not to respond to the international media reports.

Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes in Syria following the outbreak of the civil war in 2011, targeting Syrian military positions as well as forces supported by Iran, including Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The frequency of these airstrikes has risen since the onset of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on October 7, marking the reported incident as the second attack within a 24-hour period.