BEIRUT: Syria’s Health Minister reported on Monday that Israeli airstrikes overnight had resulted in the deaths of 18 people in central Hama province. The minister, Hassan al-Ghabash, also stated that 37 individuals were wounded in what he described as “one of the most violent Israeli attacks” on Syria in recent years.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights provided a higher death toll, citing 26 fatalities, including civilians and individuals associated with pro-Iran groups. The strikes targeted military sites and a scientific research center in Masyaf, Hama province, which reportedly housed Iranian experts working on weapons development.
The Israeli military, known for conducting numerous strikes in Syria since the onset of the civil war in 2011, declined to comment on the latest attack. The strikes, which began around 11:20 pm local time on Sunday, also caused significant damage, including large craters and charred vehicles.
Iran and Syria have condemned the attacks, with Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani denouncing them as a “criminal attack” and Syria accusing Israel of attempting to provoke further regional escalation. The situation comes amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly following recent conflicts involving Hamas and ongoing regional power struggles.
