On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike targeted a building in Damascus, Syria, leading to the death of seven civilians. The attack occurred in the Mazzeh neighborhood, an area known for housing embassies and security headquarters.
Civilian Casualties and Damage
Syria’s Defense Ministry reported that women and children were among those killed in the strike. The toll is expected to rise as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with smoke, debris, and destroyed vehicles scattered across the area.
Local electrician Adel Habib, who lives in the affected building, described the strike as “Judgment Day,” sharing the terrifying moments he spent unable to contact his family after the explosion.
Targeting Iranian and Hezbollah Operatives
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the airstrike specifically targeted a building frequently visited by senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The attack also hit a car parked in front of the building.
The Observatory stated that nine people were killed, including five civilians. It is believed that some of the deceased were foreign nationals, although their identities remain unclear.
Escalating Tensions in the Region
Israel has not officially commented on this specific strike but has repeatedly expressed its intent to prevent Iran from expanding its military presence in Syria. This strike follows another recent attack in the same area, which resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s son-in-law.
The airstrike has intensified the ongoing conflict, with over 400,000 Syrian refugees reportedly returning to Syria to escape the heavy Israeli bombardment of Lebanon.