Deadly Airstrikes in Northwest Syria Amidst Rising Tensions Between Israel and Hezbollah
At least 42 people have been killed in airstrikes in north-west Syria, according to reports emerging from the region. The Syrian defense ministry has attributed the strikes to Israeli planes, which purportedly targeted several sites in the Aleppo countryside around 01:45 local time on Friday.
The strikes reportedly struck a Hezbollah arms store, leading to casualties among Hezbollah militants and Syrian soldiers. The UK-based monitoring group, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), noted that the attack resulted in the highest number of Syrian forces casualties in a single such “Israeli attack,” with 36 reported dead. Additionally, six Hezbollah fighters were also reported killed in the strikes, as per the SOHR.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military confirmed another operation targeting a senior Hezbollah figure in Lebanon. Ali Abed Akhsan Naim, described as a deputy commander of Hezbollah’s missiles and rockets unit, was reportedly killed in an airstrike in the Bazuriyeh area, east of the port of Tyre.
The Syrian defense ministry has stated that civilians and military personnel were among the casualties. It alleged that the airstrikes were conducted “in conjunction with” drone attacks by “terrorist organizations” against Aleppo city and its surroundings.
Israel has refrained from commenting on the specifics of the reported airstrikes. However, it’s well-documented that Israel has launched numerous strikes on Syria in recent years, often targeting Hezbollah or Iranian assets in the region. Israel has expressed its commitment to preventing Iran, Hezbollah’s main supporter, from transferring advanced weaponry to the Lebanese group or from establishing a significant military presence in Syria.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated in recent weeks, particularly following Hamas’ attacks on Israel in early October, which triggered the conflict in Gaza. Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel have also intensified, culminating in deadly airstrikes on southern Lebanon that claimed the lives of 16 individuals, including Hezbollah fighters and other militants.
The situation remains volatile as both sides continue to exchange threats and hostilities, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.