Israeli Air Force Strikes Hezbollah Intelligence HQ in Damascus, Killing Two
Damascus, Syria – In a significant escalation in its military operations against Hezbollah, Israel’s air force conducted a strike on Monday targeting the intelligence headquarters of the Lebanese militant group’s Syrian branch in Damascus. The operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of two individuals, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war-monitoring organization.
This airstrike marks a rare acknowledgment by Israeli authorities of an operation inside Syria, a country where Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes since the onset of the civil war in 2011, primarily aimed at Iranian-backed forces. In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed that the aerial assault targeted "Hezbollah terror targets belonging to the intelligence headquarters in Syria," aiming to disrupt the group’s intelligence capabilities.
The military emphasized that the Syrian branch of Hezbollah operates an independent network focused on intelligence gathering, coordination, and assessment. The strike reportedly took place near the Sayyeda Zeinab area, a Shiite sanctuary that is closely monitored by pro-Iranian factions.
Witnesses described hearing multiple explosions, with resident Mehdi Mahfouz, 34, recounting, "I heard three successive explosions, one of which was very strong. Then I saw a large black cloud of smoke rising." The blasts were audible across nearby areas, prompting ambulances to rush to the scene.
In response to the airstrike, Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, alleging that it targeted civilian areas and caused significant material damage, although it did not report any casualties. According to Syrian state media, the strike occurred at approximately 5:18 PM local time and was launched from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights.
As the conflict continues to escalate, Israel has increased its military actions in Syria amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah, which has been involved in fighting alongside the Syrian government against various rebel groups since the civil war began.
