2024-11-04 19:22:00
The Israeli army says it has bombed targets near the Syrian capital Damascus. They were aimed at an intelligence headquarters of the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported three targets were hit in a district south of Damascus. Accordingly, two members of Hezbollah were killed and five others were seriously injured.
Ambulances rushed to the sites of rocket strikes. The attacks on Hezbollah’s secret service in Syria would weaken Hezbollah, the Israeli army emphasized. The heads of the secret service have already been killed in attacks in Lebanon recently. The information could not initially be independently verified.
The Hezbollah militia, which is allied with Iran and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli army have been shelling each other almost daily since the Gaza war began more than a year ago. Israel has also repeatedly attacked pro-Iranian militias and their weapons depots in Syria and has received sporadic fire from the neighboring country.
According to a report by the Syrian state news agency Sana, the attacks took place on the outskirts of Damascus, near a Shiite shrine. The area is considered a stronghold of pro-Iranian militias. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, which the state said also targeted civilian areas. In a statement, the ministry spoke of property damage.
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**Interview with Middle East Analyst Dr. Sarah El-Sayed**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. El-Sayed. We’re witnessing an escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, particularly with recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters near Damascus. What are your thoughts on the implications of these attacks?
**Dr. El-Sayed:** This is a significant development. The Israeli strikes highlight Israel’s ongoing strategy to weaken Hezbollah by targeting its infrastructure in both Lebanon and Syria. It’s a move that not only aims to disrupt Hezbollah’s operational capacity but also sends a message to other Iranian-affiliated forces in the region.
**Interviewer:** The Syrian government has condemned the airstrikes, alleging civilian areas were also affected. How do you think this will influence Syria’s relationship with Hezbollah and Iran?
**Dr. El-Sayed:** The Syrian regime has to balance its alliance with Iran and Hezbollah with the need to maintain domestic stability. While they may publicly condemn Israeli actions to appease national sentiment, they are also aware that these groups have been critical for their survival during the civil war. This puts them in a complex position.
**Interviewer:** Given that the conflict has escalated with daily shelling and retaliatory actions, what might this mean for the broader regional security landscape?
**Dr. El-Sayed:** It raises serious concerns about an escalating cycle of violence. If Hezbollah retaliates, it could lead to a wider regional confrontation involving Iran, Syria, and potentially other actors. The situation is highly volatile, and the risk of miscalculation is significant, which could draw in more countries.
**Interviewer:** For our readers, we’d like to pose an urgent question: Do you believe increased military actions like those seen recently are an effective means to achieve lasting peace, or do they contribute to a cycle of violence that makes a resolution more challenging?
**Dr. El-Sayed:** It’s a critical question that needs to be addressed. While military actions may provide short-term tactical advantages, they often exacerbate existing conflicts and create new grievances. Long-term stability likely requires diplomatic solutions rather than solely military ones.
