Toba Owojaiye reporting
In a recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Israeli airstrikes have reportedly struck the international airports of Damascus and Aleppo in Syria.
Syrian state media reported that the attacks damaged the runways of both airports, rendering them temporarily out of service. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in these strikes.
These airstrikes represent the first Israeli military action in Syria since a violent weekend onslaught by the Palestinian terror group Hamas in southern Israel, resulting in the loss of over 1,000 lives, predominantly civilians.
Israel responded with a series of intense airstrikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
In response to the recent attacks, a Syrian military official accused Israel of attempting to divert attention from its actions in Gaza and the losses it suffered at the hands of the Palestinian resistance.
The Israeli military has chosen not to comment on the situation.
These airstrikes occurred just a day before Iran’s foreign minister was scheduled to visit Syria to discuss the volatile regional situation, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflicts in the area.
In addition to these recent developments, there were incidents of mortars fired from Syria into the Golan Heights, which triggered a response from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Furthermore, rockets were launched from Lebanon into the Western Galilee, with Hamas claiming responsibility for these attacks.
The tensions have been escalating since Hamas’s incursion into Israel, during which terrorists crossed the border by land, air, and sea, resulting in extensive casualties and the seizure of hostages.
The vast majority of the victims were civilians, including men, women, and children. Israel has responded with artillery and airstrikes, with its focus on targeting terrorist infrastructure and areas associated with Hamas.
The ongoing hostilities have caused a significant loss of life, with estimates from the Hamas-controlled health ministry indicating over 1,100 Palestinian casualties, while the Israeli death toll has risen to more than 1,300.
Israel’s actions in Syria have been a matter of concern for some time, with airstrikes attributed to Israel targeting arms shipments believed to be destined for Iran-backed groups involved in Syria’s ongoing civil war, particularly Hezbollah.
Additionally, Syrian air defense systems have been repeatedly targeted in these strikes.
The situation remains fluid, with tensions continuing to rise in the region. Israel’s actions in Syria and its broader approach to dealing with Iran-backed groups have been a source of international attention, and the complex dynamics of the Middle East are likely to remain a critical concern for the global community.
