In brief
Israeli military actions in Syria continue to escalate, marking a significant progression in the conflict with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as casualties mount.
Israeli fighter jets launched a barrage of airstrikes across the Syrian capital, Damascus, targeting areas affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Reports from Syrian state media indicate that the strikes, which occurred in the al-Mezzeh neighborhood, resulted in the deaths of at least 15 individuals, with 16 others injured, including women and children. The strikes were coordinated around 3:20 p.m. local time, leading to substantial damage to several structures.An official statement from the Israeli military claimed that the operation inflicted "significant damage" on a command center linked to the militant group, which is heavily backed by Iran. The military has consistently held the Syrian government responsible for facilitating this militia’s activities from its territory. Over recent years, Israeli aircraft have conducted a myriad of operations within Syrian territory to thwart the influence of Iranian proxies such as Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. While the Israeli government typically refrains from providing specific comments regarding individual attacks, there has been a noticeable shift, with officials openly acknowledging their involvement in military actions in Syria.Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff of the Israeli military, stated on Tuesday, “We are conducting deep strikes and striking frequently in Syria and along the Syria-Lebanon border to prevent weapons transfers to Hezbollah.” Concurrently, Iranian media disclosed reports claiming that an Israeli missile specifically targeted a building in Damascus near a meeting involving Iranian official Ali Larijani alongside Syria's National Security Committee director; however, he reportedly remained unharmed.
