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Five killed in Israeli strike on Damascus, Syria says | Five killed in Israeli strike on Damascus, Syria says |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Syria's military says five people have died after what it alleged were Israeli missiles hit the capital Damascus and surrounding areas on Sunday. | Syria's military says five people have died after what it alleged were Israeli missiles hit the capital Damascus and surrounding areas on Sunday. |
Officials said a building was hit in the central Kafr Sousa neighbourhood, killing four civilians and one soldier. | Officials said a building was hit in the central Kafr Sousa neighbourhood, killing four civilians and one soldier. |
The densely populated district is home to a large, heavily guarded security complex. | The densely populated district is home to a large, heavily guarded security complex. |
Israel's military declined to comment on the strike when approached by Reuters news agency. | Israel's military declined to comment on the strike when approached by Reuters news agency. |
Israel frequently attacks targets in Syria linked to Iran and Hezbollah militants but rarely acknowledges its actions. However, attacks on residential areas are rare. | |
Sunday's attack was the first since a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the north-west of the country, as well as parts of neighbouring Turkey, 12 days ago. | Sunday's attack was the first since a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the north-west of the country, as well as parts of neighbouring Turkey, 12 days ago. |
The Kafr Sousa area is home to senior officials and security agencies, but also civilians living in residential buildings. | The Kafr Sousa area is home to senior officials and security agencies, but also civilians living in residential buildings. |
The strike - which hit at 00:22 local time (21:22 GMT) - caused damage to several homes in Damascus neighbourhoods and other nearby areas, Syrian officials said. | The strike - which hit at 00:22 local time (21:22 GMT) - caused damage to several homes in Damascus neighbourhoods and other nearby areas, Syrian officials said. |
The country's defence ministry said the rockets were launched from the Golan Heights, a rocky plateau south-west of Damascus which was annexed by Israel in 1981. | The country's defence ministry said the rockets were launched from the Golan Heights, a rocky plateau south-west of Damascus which was annexed by Israel in 1981. |
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 15 people, including civilians. | The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 15 people, including civilians. |
"The strike on Sunday is the deadliest Israeli attack in the Syrian capital," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the observatory. | "The strike on Sunday is the deadliest Israeli attack in the Syrian capital," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the observatory. |
It comes over a month after an Israeli strike hit Damascus's international airport, according to the Syrian army, killing four people including two soldiers. | It comes over a month after an Israeli strike hit Damascus's international airport, according to the Syrian army, killing four people including two soldiers. |
Israel has previously acknowledged that it targets the bases of militant groups loyal to Iran. | Israel has previously acknowledged that it targets the bases of militant groups loyal to Iran. |
The two countries are arch-foes and in recent years have been engaged in what has been described as a "shadow war" of unclaimed attacks on each other's assets, infrastructure and nationals. | The two countries are arch-foes and in recent years have been engaged in what has been described as a "shadow war" of unclaimed attacks on each other's assets, infrastructure and nationals. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Israel | Israel |
Golan Heights | Golan Heights |
Damascus | Damascus |
Iran | Iran |
Syria | Syria |