Israeli airstrikes conducted during the early hours of Friday targeted Hezbollah assets in and around the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, resulting in the deaths of at least 36 government troops, according to a human rights group with people on the ground.
According to a news release by the Syrian Human Rights Observatory, the airstrikes targeted a Hezbollah weapons warehouse near the international airport of the city. As a result, several regime soldiers lost their lives, and many others were injured, with some sustaining serious injuries. The attack also affected the air-defense batteries forces located in Al-Saferah, around 13 miles southeast of the city.
The explosions caused a surge of ambulances and fire trucks to quickly make their way to the location.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), there were reports of explosions in the Kafr Joum area of western Aleppo. However, the airport was not affected by the blasts. The SOHR described this incident as the most destructive Israeli attack on Syrian territory.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense in Damascus has reported that “terrorist organizations” have conducted air strikes and drone attacks, resulting in the deaths of both civilians and Syrian military personnel. However, specific details were not provided.
Israel has been conducting strikes against Hezbollah and Iranian targets in Syria for an extended period. The objective behind these strikes is to hinder Hezbollah’s military expansion and prevent the group from obtaining advanced weaponry from Tehran. The intensity of these attacks has increased since October 7, when Hezbollah started launching rockets into Israel in support of Hamas.
Iran and Hezbollah operate in Syria with the approval of the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, as they are staunch allies of his regime.
The attack in Lebanon resulted in the highest casualty toll since Hezbollah launched its military campaign following Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The toll included Hezbollah fighters and other militants.
