In brief
Israeli military confirms significant damage to a jihadist command center amidst increasing strikes in Syria and Lebanon.
On Thursday, Israeli fighter jets launched multiple airstrikes on targets in Damascus, Syria, that were reportedly linked to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and injuring 16 others, including women and children, as per reports from Syrian state media. The attacks occurred in the al-Mezzeh neighborhood at around 3:20 PM local time, causing extensive damage to several buildings in the area. The Israeli military stated that the airstrikes inflicted "significant damage" to a command center associated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militia with Iranian backing. The Israeli authorities accused the Syrian government of facilitating the operations of the militia from its territory. In recent years, Israel has conducted numerous aerial operations in Syria with the stated goal of suppressing Iranian-affiliated groups, including Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, from establishing a stronghold and acquiring advanced weaponry. Traditionally, Israel refrains from discussing specific strikes, however, there has been a noticeable shift, with officials increasingly claiming responsibility for the attacks. Herzi Halevi, the Israeli military chief of staff, highlighted the military's strategy: “We are conducting deep strikes and striking frequently in Syria and along the Syria-Lebanon border to prevent weapons transfers to Hezbollah,” indicating a persistent focus on regional security concerns. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that an Israeli missile struck a building in Damascus where Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian official, was meeting with members of Syria’s National Security Committee; fortunately, he was unharmed according to Khabar Online.
