Escalating Israeli Airstrikes on Syria: November 2024 Update

Escalating Israeli Airstrikes on Syria: November 2024 Update
November 16, 2024, 11:00 am

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Since the beginning of November, Israel has intensified its airstrikes on Syria, launching a series of concentrated aerial attacks targeting various locations and buildings. These strikes have primarily aimed at military establishments and individuals suspected of connections with Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian militias, including weapons storage facilities.

A notable focus has been on targeting both legal and illegal crossings along the Syrian-Lebanese border, aiming to disrupt Hezbollah’s supply lines and prevent the transfer of arms from Syria to Lebanon. The attacks have resulted in numerous casualties among civilians and military personnel, as well as significant material damage.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there have been 16 recorded Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory since the start of November, leading to the injury and destruction of around 23 targets, including arms and ammunition depots, headquarters, and vehicles. The casualties include:

- 12 civilians, among them women and children
- 1 Syrian collaborator with Hezbollah
- 2 fighters from Lebanese Hezbollah
- 5 Syrian individuals loyal to Iran
- 1 unidentified individual
- 5 people, including a Hezbollah leader
- 10 from a Palestinian group affiliated with Iran
- 6 military personnel, consisting of one Syrian loyal to Iran, two of other nationalities, and three unidentified individuals.

The airstrikes were distributed as follows:

- 4 in Damascus and its countryside
- 9 in Homs
- 1 in Aleppo
- 1 in Sweida
- 1 in Idlib

The Syrian Observatory indicates that Israel can target multiple provinces in a single strike, highlighting the discrepancy between the number of attacks and the frequency of targets hit.

Here are the details of the airstrikes:

- **November 1**: A citizen was killed by Israeli airstrikes in the area of Jisr Al-Daf, south of Qusair, near the water station and the Jousiya crossing in Homs.
- **November 1**: A Syrian cooperating with Hezbollah was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Qusair and its surroundings.
- **November 2**: Israeli aircraft conducted two airstrikes on the legal Jousiya-crossing, rendering it non-operational.
- **November 4**: Two Hezbollah members were killed, and five others sustained serious injuries from strikes on a farm in the Sayida Zainab area in Damascus.
- **November 5**: Multiple airstrikes targeted depots in the industrial city of Qusair, resulting in seven powerful explosions and significant smoke from the targeted locations.
- **November 6**: Israeli aircraft targeted the vicinity of a border point in the village of Hosh Sayyid Ali in Homs, which serves as a smuggling route, though no casualties were reported.
- **November 9**: Five people were killed, and twelve were injured in airstrikes on Saraqib in Idlib and the scientific research center and warehouses in Aleppo’s eastern countryside.

The report indicates that throughout November, Israeli strikes have concentrated on disrupting military activities associated with Hezbollah, Iranian militias, and various crossing points, exacerbating the humanitarian situation and increasing tensions in the region. The ongoing attacks underscore the complex dynamics of the Syrian conflict, particularly the involvement of various international players and local factions. Furthermore, the prospect of escalation remains high as the situation evolves.

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