The Syrian army reported that five soldiers were killed due to an Israeli airstrike near Damascus International Airport, according to local media. Reports indicated material damage to infrastructure. The Syrian news agency SANA quoted military sources in Damascus stating that the Israeli strike "killed five soldiers and caused some material damage." The sources noted that the attack occurred around 12:45 AM local time, coming from "the northeast of the Sea of Galilee," targeting the airport and other sites in southern Damascus.
Meanwhile, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the Israeli strike "killed five Syrian soldiers and two fighters from Iran-backed militias." The observatory stated that "Israel targeted sites of armed groups backed by Iran located near the airport and in the countryside of Damascus."
Israel has carried out airstrikes on rural areas around Damascus and the southern coastal province of Tartus last month, resulting in the death of three soldiers. An Israeli airstrike in June caused Damascus International Airport to be out of service for two weeks. Additionally, Israeli warplanes targeted the city of Aleppo twice last month. The Syrian Observatory noted at that time that those strikes targeted arms depots belonging to Iran-backed militias.
Since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes on its northern neighbor, targeting government forces, Iranian-backed troops, and Hezbollah fighters. While it is rare for Israel to comment on its airstrikes in Syria, Tel Aviv has acknowledged executing hundreds of them. Israel asserts that these airstrikes are necessary to prevent Iran from establishing a foothold on its borders.
Syrian media reported that "hostile Israeli aircraft targeted points around the capital of the Syrian Arab Republic, Damascus," confirming that "air defenses are repelling an Israeli attack in the skies of Damascus and its surroundings." No information has been received so far regarding any casualties.
