The report from a war monitor indicated that Israeli airstrikes on Friday in Syria’s Aleppo province resulted in at least 42 fatalities, including 36 Syrian soldiers, marking the highest death toll for the army since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria since the onset of the civil war in 2011, targeting military positions as well as Iran-backed forces such as Hezbollah, a Damascus ally, and the Palestinian group Hamas. The frequency of these strikes has escalated since the commencement of Israel’s conflict with Hamas on October 7, with Friday’s incident being the second attack within 24 hours.
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the strikes targeted a Hezbollah rockets depot near Aleppo airport, resulting in the reported casualties. Syrian state media corroborated the airstrikes, reporting casualties among civilians and military personnel.
The Israeli military declined to comment on the matter when contacted by AFP. Additionally, the Observatory reported airstrikes targeting defense factories controlled by pro-Iran groups elsewhere in Aleppo province.
This attack occurred shortly after a separate Israeli strike in the Damascus countryside. Syrian state media claimed that two civilians were killed in Thursday’s airstrike, which also caused material damage.
The Observatory mentioned that the Sayyida Zeinab area, known for housing pro-Iran armed groups like Hezbollah south of the capital, was targeted. Israeli airstrikes in Syria also aim to disrupt Hezbollah’s supply routes to neighboring Lebanon.
