Syria Denounces Israeli Air Strikes Targeting Civilian Areas Near Damascus

Department of Security and Military Strategic Research and Studies 05-11-2024

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has called on the United Nations to take immediate action to prevent what it describes as “Israeli aggression” against civilians. This request follows a series of Israeli air strikes south of Damascus that reportedly resulted in two fatalities and five injuries, according to a human rights monitoring organization.

The state news agency SANA, quoting a military source, reported that on Monday evening around 5:18pm local time (14:18 GMT), Israeli fighter jets launched attacks on “several civilian sites” south of Damascus, causing significant property damage. The strikes were reportedly launched from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, SANA stated.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned these missile attacks on populated areas, labeling them “criminal acts.” In a statement, the ministry called upon UN members to promptly intervene to halt the Israeli strikes and hold Israel accountable.

“The Syrian Arab Republic condemns the aggression perpetrated by the Zionist entity this evening,” the statement declared. “Syria urges member states of the United Nations to take swift and firm measures to stop these Israeli attacks and ensure accountability for those responsible.”

Reports indicate that Israeli jets conducted three separate strikes in the Sayyidah Zaynab area, approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Damascus. The first strike hit the Kaou Sudan junction, an area with a high concentration of displaced individuals who had fled conflict in Lebanon. The second strike targeted an area near a hotel southeast of Sayyidah Zaynab, while the third struck farmhouses nearby.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), based in the United Kingdom, reported that two members of Hezbollah were killed and five others sustained serious injuries when Israeli forces targeted a farm in the region.

In a rare public statement early Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force confirmed that it had struck “specific targets” within Hezbollah’s intelligence network in Syria. According to their social media post, Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Syria contains systems for gathering and analyzing information.

“This strike on Hezbollah’s military intelligence headquarters in Syria is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the intelligence operations of the organization,” the Israeli Air Force stated, noting that these operations extended from Lebanon.

The Sayyidah Zaynab area, a prominent Hezbollah base and the site of a significant Shia shrine, has been the target of multiple Israeli strikes in the past. Sources indicate that this area remains a priority for Israeli defense efforts due to the presence of Hezbollah members who have sought refuge there.

Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian territory over the years, though it seldom acknowledges responsibility. However, following the October 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas forces, these operations have increased in frequency.