Israeli Strike in Syria Kills Dozens

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Facts

  • An Israeli strike on the Syrian city of Palmyra on Wednesday killed at least 36 people and wounded 50, with the UN saying it was the deadliest attack in the country to date. Syrian state media outlet SANA said that the strike hit residential buildings and an industrial zone. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 79 Iran-backed fighters were killed in the strike.[1][2][3]
  • The Israeli military did not confirm the attack, though Israel has launched regular strikes in Syria since the beginning of the country's civil war in 2011. Israeli attacks in Syria usually target sites and areas associated with Iranian-backed militias, but it rarely comments on such operations.[4][5]
  • The strikes come as negotiations for a cease-fire in Lebanon made some progress this week, with US envoy Amos Hochstein meeting with Israeli officials Thursday to hash out the final details of a potential deal. Hochstein was in Beirut earlier this week meeting with Lebanese officials.[6]
  • The agreement would be based on UN Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The main point of contention has been the deal's enforcement, with Israel demanding the ability to strike Lebanon if Hezbollah reneges on the deal.[7][8]
  • A senior Lebanese official said that Lebanon is seeking a speedier withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon and the right for both parties to self-defense — adding that the Israeli army should leave Lebanon quickly so that the Lebanese army can deploy to the area and civilians can return home.[9]
  • As the talks progressed, Israeli strikes pummeled Lebanon on Thursday, killing at least 47 people and wounding 22. Multiple waves of strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs were also reported on Thursday after Israel issued evacuation orders.[10][11][12]

Sources: [1]Reuters (a)[2] [2]Barron's, [3]SyriaHR, [4]Associated Press, [5]The Times of Israel (a), [6]BBC News, [7]Axios, [8]Al Arabiya, [9]Reuters (b), [10]Al Jazeera, [11] The Times of Israel (b) and [12]AA.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by NBC. Though the situation in the region continues to escalate, the US has stood firm in its role as a mediator. Israel has every right to respond to the daily terror attacks it has seen since Oct. 7, 2023. However, it's in no one's interest for tensions to explode into a wider regional war. The US will continue to work toward regional stability.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Tablet Magazine. Amid ongoing terror from Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran, the world has turned its back on Israel. Whole stretches of the region have been taken hostage by Iran-backed terror groups, while Israel is fighting to liberate the Middle East. Indeed, Israel does not only have a right to defend itself — it has a right to win.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Israel is bombing several countries in the Middle East yet continues to play the victim. As it commits genocide in Gaza and works to destroy Lebanon — all in the name of "remaking the Middle East" — it will only create more problems for itself. Indeed, Israel's aggression will only lead to its further isolation.