At least 15 people killed in Israeli strikes on Syria’s Damascus

Israel has ramped up attacks connected Iran-linked targets successful Syria since it began its warfare connected Gaza past year.

At slightest 15 group person been killed successful Israeli strikes connected residential buildings successful Damascus, Syrian authorities media reported.

“The Israeli force launched an aerial aggression from nan guidance of nan occupied Syrian Golan [Heights], targeting residential buildings successful nan Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus and nan Qudssaya area successful nan Damascus countryside, sidesplitting 15 group and injuring 16 others,” nan ministry said connected Thursday, adding that nan decease toll could rise.

The Israeli subject said it carried retired aerial strikes targeting respective buildings and bid centres belonging to nan Palestinian Islamic Jihad equipped group.

The strikes are a “significant blow” to nan Gaza-based group and its operatives, nan Israeli service connection says connected Telegram.

An charismatic pinch nan Palestinian Islamic Jihad Group told The Associated Press news agency nan onslaught successful Mazzeh targeted 1 of nan group’s offices, and that respective members of nan group were killed.

“[The Palestinian Islamic Jihad] is simply a Gaza-based group, a group that participated on pinch Hamas successful nan October 7 attacks successful Israel past year,” Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford said, reporting from Beirut.

“In nan past fewer weeks aliases so, location has been an escalation successful Israel targeting infrastructure and according to Israel, Hezbollah-related targets successful Syria. Certainly, this is nan first clip successful a agelong while, that Palestinian Islamic Jihad is targeted,” he added.

A female reacts arsenic she checks nan harm pursuing a reported Israeli onslaught successful nan Mazzeh territory of Damascus outskirts [Louai Beshara/AFP]

Israel has been carrying retired strikes against Iran-linked targets successful Syria for years but has ramped up specified raids since past year’s October 7 attack led by nan Palestinian group Hamas. Israel besides launched its continuing battle connected Gaza, which has killed astatine slightest 43,736 group and wounded 103,370 others, according to Palestinian authorities.

Commanders successful Lebanon’s Hezbollah equipped group and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard based successful Syria person been known to reside successful Mazzeh, according to residents who fled aft caller strikes that killed immoderate cardinal figures from nan groups.

Mazzeh’s high-rise blocks person been utilized by nan authorities successful nan past to location leaders of Palestinian factions including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

“It is besides absorbing to constituent retired that successful caller weeks Israel has been trying to trim weapons lines for Hezbollah. This onslaught [Thursday’s strike] doesn’t look to beryllium needfully related to that … but this onslaught again highlights nan magnitude and scope of Israel,” Stratford added.

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Al Jazeera and news agencies