Toll in Series of Israeli Air Strikes in Syria Rises to 14, Over 43 Injured

Damascus: The death toll in overnight Israeli strikes in Syria has risen to 14 with over 40 individuals injured, the Associated Press reported quoting the Syrian state media on Monday morning. Earlier, the initial death count reported by the Masyaf National Hospital in western Hamas province was said to be four.

As per officials, the Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria on Sunday. However, local media also reported strikes around the coastal city of Tartous.

In the attacks, a highway in the Hama province was damaged and sparked fire, Syrian state news agency SANA said. 

The news agency further citing hospital head Faysal Haydar, said that 14 have been killed and 43 have sustained injuries. 

Meanwhile, a UK-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least four of those killed were civilians.

It further added that one of the strikes targeted a scientific research centre in Maysaf and others struck sites where “Iranian militias and experts are stationed to develop weapons in Syria.

The attack is yet to be confirmed as there has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military about the attack. 

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations. The strikes often target Syrian forces or Iranian-backed groups.

This comes as Tel Aviv has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment in Syria, particularly since Syria is a key route for Iran to send weapons to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has been clashing with Israeli forces for the past 11 months against the backdrop of Israel's war against Hamas — an ally of Hezbollah — in Gaza. 

(Inputs from AP)