At least 16 people have died and dozens more have been injured following an Israeli airstrike on military installations in central Syria, as reported by state media on Monday.
The late-night strike targeted areas near the city of Masyaf in Hama province, resulting in extensive damage and fires, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The attack, which occurred around 11:20 p.m. on Sunday, was launched from Lebanese airspace and hit several military sites in the central region. A Syrian military source confirmed that while some incoming missiles were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems, others reached their targets, causing significant damage.
SANA’s latest update indicates that at least 43 people were injured, with many in critical condition. The initial death toll of 14 has risen to 16, with some of the victims being civilians, according to a health official at Masyaf’s public hospital.
Targeted military sites included a military research center believed to be involved in chemical weapons production, according to two regional intelligence sources who spoke to Reuters. Iranian military experts, reportedly present at the facility, were assisting in weapons development at the time of the strike.
The Israeli military has not commented on the attack, adhering to its policy of not discussing operations in Syria. Israel has frequently targeted Iranian-linked military installations throughout Syria’s 13-year civil war, especially in areas where Iranian forces or Hezbollah fighters are active.
The airstrike coincides with rising regional tensions between Israel and Iran. Tehran has vowed retaliation for the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in July and has condemned Israeli actions in Syria. A senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander, Mohsen Chizari, recently stated that Iran’s response is imminent.
In April, Iran retaliated for an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus with a missile and drone attack on Israel. Most of the projectiles were intercepted by Israeli and U.S. air defenses, minimizing the damage. Additionally, Hezbollah, a Lebanese ally of Iran, increased its activity against Israel following the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in an Israeli air raid in Beirut on August 25.
