Syrian State Media: Another Israeli Strike on Damascus Kills 2 Civilians

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Facts

  • Syria's official state news agency (SANA), citing a military source, reported that an Israeli strike on Damascus and its southern environs left two civilians dead and 'some material damage.' [The attack immediately followed a series of air strikes and security incidents over the weekend.]1
  • The day before, SANA reported that a car bomb exploded in the Damascus neighborhood of Mezzeh — where embassies and UN agencies are located — Sunday night, with no group taking responsibility for the attack. SANA did not blame Israel for the strike, saying that an investigation is ongoing.2
  • After the strikes in Damascus on Thursday and Friday, SANA reported that another Israeli strike occurred near the city of Homs on Saturday, wounding five Syrian soldiers. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the strikes targeted military positions of government forces and pro-Iran groups.3
  • Following more airstrikes reportedly against military sites across the Homs governorate on Sunday, the Israeli military said it shot down an “aircraft” that crossed from Syria into Israel’s airspace, adding that air force helicopters and fighter jets were deployed to the area.4
  • Over the last decade, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets in Syria. The Israeli government rarely acknowledges specific operations. However, it has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to extend its footprint in Syria.5
  • Outside of military sites, Israel has also targeted the Aleppo and Damascus airports, as well as the country's seaports, in an apparent attempt to prevent Iranian arms shipments to militant groups backed by Tehran, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.6

Sources: 1Reuters, 2The times of israel, 3Al arabiya english, 4Associated Press, 5Naharnet and 6Abc news.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Foreign Affairs. Israel has been carrying out air strikes against suspected Iranian weapons transfers and personnel and its proxies in Syria for almost a decade. Though the strikes are part of a low-intensity conflict to slow Iran's growing entrenchment in Syria, the West has seemingly dropped its previous plan of diplomacy to allow Israel and other allies to, instead, use military force to settle its grievances with Tehran — a risky strategy that underestimates the magnitude and repercussions of a military escalation.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The times of israel. Syria is a conflict zone with many actors, all of which can cause this 'shadow war' to go hot, and Iran — with its coordinated effort with Russia, which controls much of the Syrian airspace — risks pushing it over the edge. Israel has been clear that it will not permit Iran to freely move weapons and fighters through Syria if such activities threaten Israeli security, and is right to target Iranian assets in any of the countries into which Tehran has dug its tentacles.