2023 Damascus airstrike
Part of Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict
Location
Damascus Governorate, Syria
TargetAmmunition depot
Date19 February 2023 (2023-02-19)
00:22 – (UTC+3)
Executed by Israel (suspected)
Casualties15 (13 fighters and 2 civilians)[1] killed

An airstrike, suspected to have been carried out by the Israeli Air Force, targeted sites in the Damascus Governorate, including a residential building.[2] Five fatalities and fifteen injuries have been reported, with some of the wounded in a serious state.[3]

Background

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, many international airstrikes have been carried out. In Syria, there is a large presence of Iranian troops as well as proxies including Hezbollah and foreign militias from Iraq and Afghanistan. The strike took place in the same area where Hezbollah's senior commander, Imad Mughniyeh, was assassinated in 2008.[4]

Attack

On 18 February, Israel struck targets in Damascus from the Golan Heights.[5] The Kafr Sousa neighborhood was struck[6] near highly guarded Iranian installations.[7] Witnesses and officials said that the strike killed five people.[7] According to the Israelis, the strike hit a warehouse used by Iranian and Hezbollah fighters.[8] Historic buildings near the Damascus Citadel were damaged, which was blamed on the strike.[8] The strike damaged buildings near Umayyad Square, where multiple security installations are located.[9] Other civilian buildings were also damaged.[8] 15 civilians were injured.[8]

Syria says it shot down multiple missiles.[10] A woman was killed in the Marzaa District, possibly due to Syrian anti-aircraft munitions.[8]

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 15 people were killed, including at least 2 civilians.[11] It was reported that Colonel Amjad Ali, nicknamed the 'butcher of Damascus', was among the dead.[12] Sources told Reuters that the airstrike targeted an installation where Iranian officials were meeting to advance military programs aimed at developing drone or missile capabilities.[13]

Reactions

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli attack, considering it a "flagrant violation of international law".[14] The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly denounced the Israeli strikes in Damascus, expressing their outrage at the destruction and civilian casualties caused.[15] Hamas strongly "condemned the Israeli attack and its targeting of residential neighborhoods in the capital, Damascus".[16] While the Islamic Jihad Movement considered that the bombing of Damascus "reveals Israel's continuous efforts to target Syria and deepen the tragedy of its people who are healing their wounds after the devastating earthquake."[16]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.syriahr.com/en/290175/
  2. ↑ Al-Khalidi, Suleiman (18 February 2023). "Israeli missile strikes building in central Damascus, several casualties". news.yahoo.com.
  3. ↑ "شهداء وجرحى جراء العدوان الإسرائيلي على أحياء سكنية في دمشق" [Martyrs and wounded as a result of the Israeli aggression on residential neighborhoods in Damascus]. Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 19 February 2023.
  4. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel (19 February 2023). "Syria says 5 killed, 15 wounded in Israeli strike on Damascus residential area". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Chatterjee, Phelan (19 February 2023). "Five killed in Israeli strike on Damascus, Syria says Published". BBC News. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Deadly air strike on Kafr Sousa suburb of Damascus". The Guardian. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  7. 1 2 Al-Khalidi, Suleiman (20 February 2023). "Israeli missile strikes building in central Damascus, five dead". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "More than a dozen killed in Israel's 'deadliest attack' on Syrian capital Damascus". France24. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  9. ↑ Sanadiki, Omar (19 February 2023). "Israeli missile strikes on Syrian capital leave five dead". NBC News. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Five Killed in Israeli Missile Attack on Syria". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Death toll update | Nine Syrian people including seven military figures and three officers among 15 killed by Israeli attack on Damascus". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
  12. ↑ Oweis, Khaled Yacoub (19 February 2023). "Five killed in Israeli air strikes on Damascus, Syria says". The National (Abu Dhabi).
  13. ↑ "Rocket strike in Damascus hit Iranian military experts, sources say". Jerusalem Post. 22 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "Russia condemns Israeli strike on Syria as 'flagrant violation' of international law". The Times of Israel.
  15. ↑ "Lebanon condemns Israeli strikes on Damascus". L'Orient Today. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  16. 1 2 "فصائل فلسطينية تدين القصف الإسرائيلي لدمشق" [Palestinian factions condemn the Israeli bombing of Damascus]. www.aa.com.tr (in Arabic).

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