DAMASCUS: The death toll in Israeli air strikes on Syria has surged to 52, including 38 government soldiers and seven members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, a war monitor reported on Saturday.
The Israeli strikes, which occurred on Friday, targeted a rocket depot linked to Hezbollah near the Aleppo airport in northern Syria.
These strikes have raised concerns of a broader regional conflict, as tensions continue to escalate in the area. Israeli raids on forces in Syria have intensified since the outbreak of the 2011 civil war, with Hezbollah supporting the Syrian government.
The recent escalation follows Israel’s conflict with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7. Israeli strikes have also targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon in response to cross-border incidents.
Friday’s attacks resulted in the deaths of 38 Syrian soldiers, seven Hezbollah members, and seven Syrian fighters, marking the highest death toll among Syrian soldiers in Israeli strikes since the Gaza conflict began. Israel has not officially confirmed these strikes.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, commenting on the situation, stated that Israel would continue its operations against Hezbollah, holding them accountable for any attacks originating from Lebanon. He emphasized Israel’s commitment to maintaining its security and responding to threats from its adversaries.
Riad Kahwaji, head of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, characterized Syria and Lebanon as an extended battleground from the Israeli perspective, highlighting the complex and volatile nature of the region’s geopolitical dynamics.
