Israeli strikes in Syria, at least 36 dead near Aleppo
Israeli strikes have killed at least 36 people near the Syrian city of Aleppo, reports say. A military source told Syria’s state news agency that Israeli strikes hit several sites at 01:45 on Friday.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says the targets were weapons stores used by Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Reuters news agency, citing two sources, says five Hezbollah fighters are among the dead and gives a death toll of 38.
The SOHR, a monitoring group with an extensive network of contacts in Syria, says “dozens” of others were injured. The sites targeted are near Aleppo International Airport, it adds.
Israel has been launching hundreds of strikes on Syria since the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011. They target groups allied with Iran – a supporter of Hamas.
The strikes have increased since the 7 October attacks and Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza.
Hezbollah has also launched repeater rocker barrages against Israel from southern Lebanon.
The Syrian defence ministry said the new air strikes had coincided with drone attacks in Aleppo carried out by “terrorist organisations”, though it did not specify whether there had been any further casualties.
Israeli strikes on Syrian airports
Israel launched the first air strikes on the two main airports in Syria shortly after the start of the war as it is concerned about new fronts being opened in the deadly conflict.
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 28, 2024
Israeli air strikes hit the area just by the Aleppo Airport in Syria.
Probably IRGC operatives being introduced to some Israeli explosives pic.twitter.com/KyXXUeTbmU