Israeli Airstrikes Kill Over 42 in Syria’s Aleppo, Sparking International Condemnation
Iran Condemns Attacks as Violation of International Law and Syrian Sovereignty, Calls for Global Accountability.
Israeli airstrikes on Syria’s northern province of Aleppo have resulted in the deaths of more than 40 individuals, the majority of whom were soldiers, according to reports from news agencies and a war monitoring group.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), based in Britain, disclosed that among the casualties were six members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The death toll was revised to 42, with numerous others sustaining injuries in the attacks.
The strikes occurred around 1:45 a.m. local time on Friday (22:45 GMT on Thursday), targeting multiple areas in Aleppo’s countryside, as stated by Syria’s Ministry of Defence. While casualty figures were not provided by the ministry, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that both civilians and military personnel were killed, with property damage incurred. The agency mentioned Israel and unspecified armed groups as responsible for the strikes.
According to the SOHR, Israeli airstrikes struck a weapons depot near Aleppo International Airport, triggering a series of powerful explosions. At least 36 Syrian soldiers were reported killed, with the area identified as housing Hezbollah weapons depots.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights further indicated that a Hezbollah warehouse in the Jibrin area, adjacent to Aleppo International Airport, was among the targets hit. The strikes persisted for approximately three hours across the northern Aleppo countryside, resulting in one of the highest death tolls of Syrian military personnel from Israeli airstrikes, according to the monitoring group. Defense factories in the Safira area were also reportedly targeted.
In response to the attacks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson condemned the Israeli actions, labeling them as a blatant violation of international laws and Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Nasser Kan’ani strongly criticized the airstrikes, extending condolences to Syria and emphasizing the need for accountability from the international community and the United Nations Security Council.
Kan’ani asserted that the coordinated nature of the attacks with those of terrorist groups in Syria exemplified Israel’s support for such factions, which have long posed a threat to the region’s security. He further characterized the strikes as a desperate attempt by Israel to divert attention from its recent setbacks, particularly its defeat in the Gaza Strip, by exacerbating the crisis in the region.
The condemnation underscores the escalating tensions in the region and the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, as Syria grapples with internal conflict and external interventions, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn nation.
