Last Sunday, February 19th, Israel’s attacks targeting Iranian arsenal continued when a building in central Damascus's Kafr Sousa neighborhood was hit by an Israeli rocket strike. The area is close to a heavily guarded security complex and Iranian installations. The attack killed five people and injured fifteen, according to Syrian state media, and the Iranian media reported the same number of casualties.

The densely populated area close to Umayyad square was damaged by the targeted strike, and several buildings were damaged.While Israel’s military spokesman did not accept to answer questions in this regard, Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned it- comparing it to the recent attacks by ISIS in Syria. Israel has carried out airstrikes against suspected Iranian-sponsored weapon transfers and personnel deployments in Syria since 2017. According to Western intelligence sources, Iran has been expanding its military presence in Syria with thousands of militias and local paramilitary groups under its command.

Syrian army released a statement confirming that the rocket strike in Damascus caused damage to several civilian homes and neighborhoods in the vicinity. The highlighted aspect of this event was stressed  by the Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, who condemned the attack, describing it as a "crime against humanity." He argued that the timing of the attack, less than two weeks after the country was hit by a devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 5,800 people, was particularly egregious.

By: S.R