Israeli Air Strikes Kill Two in Damascus’s Kafr Sousa Area: State Media
In a recent development, Israeli air strikes have claimed the lives of two individuals in the Kafr Sousa area of Damascus, according to state media reports. The attack occurred near a heavily guarded complex utilized by security agencies. While Israel has not officially confirmed the strikes, videos circulating on social media, verified by Al Jazeera, show an apartment engulfed in flames within a multistory building. The impact of the attack shattered windows in nearby buildings and caused damage to numerous parked cars in the vicinity.
The targeted area, Kafr Sousa, is known for housing various security and military headquarters, making it a significant location for such an attack. Witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions, prompting ambulances to rush to the scene. The neighborhood also encompasses residential buildings and Iranian cultural centers, further adding to the complexity of the situation.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Britain-based opposition war monitor, confirmed the incident and stated that the strike resembled last month’s killing of Saleh al-Arouri, a prominent official from the Palestinian group Hamas, in Beirut, Lebanon. Rami Abdulrahman, the head of SOHR, revealed that the two individuals killed in the apartment were not identified.
SOHR has been actively documenting Israeli attacks on Syrian territory throughout this year. According to their records, there have been a total of 13 Israeli attacks, including eight air strikes and five rocket attacks by ground forces. These assaults have resulted in the destruction of nearly 31 targets and claimed the lives of 31 fighters, with an additional 13 individuals sustaining injuries. Shockingly, eight civilians, including one woman, have also lost their lives due to Israeli strikes in Syria this year.
The United States and Israel have long been engaged in targeted attacks against what they perceive as Iran-linked targets within Syria. Tehran’s influence has significantly grown since it backed President Bashar al-Assad during the onset of the Syrian war in 2011. The intensity of these attacks has surged since October 7, when Hamas fighters launched a devastating assault on communities in southern Israel, resulting in over 1,100 casualties and approximately 240 individuals being taken captive. Israel responded fiercely, leading to the deaths of more than 29,000 people in the Gaza Strip.
This recent strike in Damascus follows a similar pattern of Israeli aggression. Last month, an Israeli attack on the western neighborhood of al-Mezzeh obliterated a building utilized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), resulting in the deaths of at least five Iranians. Furthermore, in December, an Israeli air strike in a suburb of Damascus claimed the life of Iranian general Seyed Razi Mousavi, a long-time advisor to the IRGC in Syria. Over the years, Israel has also targeted members of Palestinian and Lebanese armed groups within Syrian territory.
The situation remains tense as Israel continues its military operations against perceived threats in Syria. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed groups shows no signs of abating, leaving innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. As the international community closely monitors these developments, the need for a peaceful resolution becomes increasingly urgent to prevent further loss of life and destruction.
