Syrian Soldier Killed in Israeli Strike on Damascus

In the early hours of a Sunday, Israeli airstrikes targeted several locations in and around Damascus, resulting in the death of a Syrian soldier and injuries to three others, according to Syrian state media reports.

The Israeli military confirmed targeting a Syrian military command center and other sites related to the Syrian army and air defense. This action was in retaliation for two drones launched from Syrian territory toward Israel. This public admission marks a rare instance of Israel acknowledging its military operations in Syria. Over the years since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, Israel has carried out numerous strikes, primarily against military targets and Iran-supported groups.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the attacks occurred shortly after midnight and were aimed at military facilities in southern Syria and a residential area in Damascus’s Kafr Sousa district. Syrian air defenses reportedly managed to shoot down several of the incoming missiles despite their number and intensity. SANA also released a photo showing a fire at a blast site.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that an airstrike targeted a building in Kafr Sousa housing Iran-aligned fighters, killing a pro-government fighter and wounding six others. It also mentioned damage to a military headquarters south of Damascus. Local reports included details of a munitions depot exploding near Damascus due to the Israeli strike, with residents experiencing strong successive blasts and a gunpowder smell.

On the preceding Saturday, the Israeli army reported intercepting two unmanned