Syria’s Hama was hit by multiple Israeli strikes late Sunday. The attack has killed at least 14 civilians, Syrian state media reported. Sources say the attacks targeted a major military research centre. It is believed to house a team of Iranian military experts involved in weapons production.
Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians and soldiers, Israel has escalated its strikes on Iranian-backed militia targets. This includes attacks in Syria, targeting Syrian army air defences and some Syrian forces.
A local health official quoted by Syria’s state news agency said over 40 people were also injured. Several were critically wounded, following Sunday’s strikes in the vicinity of the city of Misyaf.
Two regional intelligence sources said a major military research centre for chemical arms production located near Misyaf was hit several times. It is believed to house a team of Iranian military experts involved in weapons production.
Syria’s state media also reported that the strikes caused two fires, which firefighters were working to extinguish.
There has been no immediate comment from Israel, which typically does not comment on specific reports of strikes in Syria.
In the most high-profile attack on Syria since the war in Gaza began, suspected Israeli warplanes bombed Iran’s embassy in April. Iran said this strike killed seven military advisers, including three senior commanders.
Middle-East Tensions Rising
Throughout Syria’s 13-year civil war, Israel has regularly carried out air raids in the country – mostly targeting Iran-linked sites.
Amid growing regional tensions, the Sunday attack came with Iranian officials still pledging to respond to the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.
Iran maintains a military presence in Syria. It had promised a “harsh punishment” for Israel over the killing. However, no Iranian attack has materialised more than 40 days after the assassination.
Hezbollah also carried out its own attack against Israel on August 25. This was in response to the killing of one of its top commanders in an Israeli air raid in Beirut. The raid also killed several civilians.
Since then, the cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel have continued on a near-daily basis. Hezbollah says it is targeting military sites in northern Israel and Syria’s occupied Golan Heights in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
The Lebanese group has promised to continue its military operations until the war on Gaza ends. However, the Israeli officials have promised to push Hezbollah off the country’s border, including by all-out war, if necessary.
