Residential building in Syrian capital targeted by Israeli strike – media

A residential building in the Syrian capital was targeted by an Israeli airstrike, resulting in the deaths of multiple individuals, as reported by the state-run SANA news agency.

The incident occurred in the Mezzeh neighborhood of southwest Damascus on Saturday morning. SANA stated that among those killed in the bombing raid were a number of Iranian advisers.

Videos circulating on social media, although unverified, depicted a significant explosion and the destruction of a building in the capital. According to a security source, the Israeli attack specifically targeted members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, resulting in casualties.

Taleb Ibrahim, a Syrian political analyst, emphasized that numerous civilians were buried under the debris and that some Iranian military advisers were assassinated in the airstrike. Ibrahim further claimed that the Israeli jets responsible for the attack originated from the Golan Heights, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

He added that a total of four missiles were fired at the Syrian capital. Addressing the presence of Iranian advisers in Damascus, Ibrahim asserted that Syria has the right to collaborate with Iran, Russia, and China to enhance its military capabilities. Israel has conducted multiple strikes on Syrian territory since the onset of the civil war in 2011, with several incidents occurring since October 7, when the IDF launched a military operation in Gaza in response to an incursion by the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

Ibrahim disputed Israel’s claim of targeting Iranian forces inside Syria, alleging that their true objective is to weaken Syria’s military capabilities.

The analyst also cautioned that Israel’s strikes on neighboring countries, including Syria and Lebanon, could potentially ignite a large-scale conflict in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to Iran as the “head of the octopus” on Thursday, highlighting its influence over various groups such as Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In response to questions from reporters about Israel’s lack of direct strikes on Iranian territory, Netanyahu emphasized that they are indeed attacking Iran indirectly, dispelling any doubts about their actions.