News Wrap: Syrian state media says Israeli airstrikes killed at least 15 people there
Damascus blames Israel after explosions heard near capital
Syrian state media is reporting that Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 15 people and destroyed several buildings near the capital, Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said at least 15 people were killed and dozen more were injured in the attacks late on Sunday night. The group said the strike targeted facilities allegedly linked to Iranian forces, who have been supporting the Syrian government in combatting a decade-long rebellion.Syrian state media reported that the attacks took place around 11:30 PM local time, with the targeted buildings destroyed.
The Israeli military has not directly commented on the alleged airstrikes, but they have conducted hundreds of strikes on Iranian targets in Syria in recent years to hinder the country's presence there.Tensions between Israel and Iran have been rising in recent months, despite the recent Iranian nuclear deal. Israel considers Iran to be one of its main security threats and says that Iran's support for Hezbollah and other anti-Israeli groups sets the region unstable. There were no immediate reports of any Israeli casualties.
The Syrian government has condemned the attacks and said they were a violation of international law. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an end to the violence and urged all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement that was brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2020.
The airstrikes come as Syria is still grappling with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that struck the country and Turkey earlier this month, killing dozens of thousands of people.
