Israeli planes pound stronghold of Iran-backed militias in Damascus
Israeli planes struck a suburb in Damascus in the latest attack on an area under the control of Iran-backed militias.
Syrian media quoted a military official as saying that several locations on the outskirts of the capital were hit on Wednesday.
The strikes “only caused material damage”, the official said.
The pro-Iranian Lebanese TV channel Mayadeen said one of the strikes occurred in the Sayyidah Zaynab district.
Militias allied with Tehran in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon have increased their attacks on Israeli and US targets since militants from Hamas, which is also linked to Iran, attacked Israeli communities on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and abducting about 240.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes and ground offensive in Gaza have killed more than 30,000 people.
Israeli forces have increased air strikes on Iranian sites and supply lines in Syria since October 7, hitting Damascus and Aleppo airports, as well as sites linked to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia backed by Iran and Syria, and an ally of Hamas.
The US and Iran said they do not want to escalate a regional war but violence has increased since Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza. Sayyidah Zaynab is home to a shrine that contains the grave of Zaynab, the daughter of Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Taleb.
It is the site of an important pilgrimage for Shiite Muslims.
Hezbollah cited the protection of the shrine as its initial justification for entering the Syrian civil war.
The area has since become a centre for Shiite militias from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, many backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran started increasing its military presence in Syria after pro-democracy uprisings in 2011 led to a civil war there, with regional and international powers becoming involved. Tehran and Moscow played a vital role supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and have retained influence in Syria.
Iran-backed groups have also been accused of smuggling weapons into Syria that are capable of striking Israel.
Israel is facing missile strikes from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah on its northern border in Lebanon.
It has sought to limit attacks from Syria.
Since 2013, Israel has been carrying out air strikes to destroy such capabilities.