Iran Condemns Israel's Syria Strike That Killed at Least 16

Photo : Reuters

Following overnight Israeli airstrikes on central Hama province in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people, Iran has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as a "criminal" attack. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani denounced the strikes and called for an end to support for Israel, urging its backers to cease their support and arms provision.

The strikes come amid a broader escalation of Israeli military actions in Syria. Since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers, Israel has intensified its operations against targets associated with Iranian-backed militias in Syria. This includes attacks on Syrian army air defenses and other military sites.

Israel has a history of conducting numerous strikes on targets within Syria, particularly those linked to Iranian interests. These operations are part of Israel’s strategy to prevent Iranian entrenchment in Syria, which is a key transit route for Iran to supply arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite the frequency of these strikes, Israel rarely acknowledges them publicly.

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On Monday, Syrian state media reported that the Israeli strikes killed 16 individuals and left 36 others wounded, including six in critical condition. The strikes targeted several sites on the outskirts of Masyaf, a city in Hama province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, provided a higher death toll, reporting 25 fatalities, including five civilians, four soldiers, and 13 Syrians affiliated with pro-Iranian groups. The Observatory also noted that three additional bodies remain unidentified.

The Israeli military has yet to comment on this latest attack. The ongoing conflict and frequent strikes underscore the volatile and complex nature of the regional dynamics involving Israel, Syria, and Iranian-backed forces.