In brief
On November 14, 2024, Israeli airstrikes in Damascus targeted sites linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, leading to the deaths of at least 15 individuals and injuries to 16 others, including women and children, according to reports from Syrian state media. The strikes occurred around 3:20 p.m. local time in the al-Mezzeh neighborhood, where several buildings were damaged.
The Israeli military stated that it successfully "inflicted significant damage" to a command center associated with the militia, which receives backing from Iran. Israel has long maintained that it conducts these strikes to prevent militant groups like Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from establishing a foothold in Syria. Recently, military officials have become more vocal about the frequency of air raids, with Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi claiming robust operations along the Syria-Lebanon border aimed at obstructing weapon transfers to Hezbollah.Additionally, Iranian media reported a missile strike was directed at a building in Damascus where a senior Iranian official, Ali Larijani, was meeting with Syrian National Security representatives. Fortunately, Larijani was not harmed. This cycle of violence raises concerns over the potential for broader conflict in the region.
