Reports from Syrian state media indicate that the death toll from overnight Israeli strikes in Syria has climbed to 14, with more than 40 individuals sustaining injuries. The strikes, which occurred late Sunday, targeted several areas in central Syria, causing significant damage to a highway in Hama province and igniting fires.
The Masyaf National Hospital in western Hama initially reported four fatalities, but according to hospital head Faysal Haydar, the final count stands at 14 dead and 43 wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has noted that at least four of those killed were civilians.
One of the strikes was directed at a scientific research center in Maysaf, while others hit locations where Iranian militias and experts are believed to be working on weapon development in Syria. Additional strikes were reported near the coastal city of Tartous.
While the Israeli military has not issued an immediate response, Israel has conducted numerous strikes on targets within government-controlled areas of Syria in recent years. These operations, often targeting Syrian forces or Iranian-backed groups, are typically not officially acknowledged or discussed by Israel.
Israel's primary objective in these strikes is to prevent Iranian entrenchment in Syria, as the country serves as a crucial conduit for Iran to supply weapons to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Tensions have escalated between Hezbollah and Israeli forces over the past 11 months, particularly in the context of Israel's conflict with Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, in Gaza.
