On Wednesday, February 21, Israeli airstrikes targeted locations in the western suburbs of the Syrian capital, Damascus, for the second time in less than 12 hours. The strikes were reportedly aimed at sites belonging to Iranian militias, resulting in casualties and material damage. The attacks, which were carried out from the skies of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, have once again raised tensions in the region.
The initial strike occurred in the morning, targeting a site near the Iranian school in the Kafr Sousa neighborhood, leaving several dead and wounded. The Syrian regime’s official news agency, SANA, confirmed the strikes and published images showing the aftermath of the attack on a residential building. Additionally, reports from opposition sources suggested that the targeted building was being used as headquarters for Iranian militias.
The second wave of bombings hit the capital and its surroundings in the afternoon, with air defenses attempting to intercept the incoming missiles. The attacks resulted in further casualties and material damage, with reports indicating that the strikes were aimed at Iranian militia positions southwest of Damascus.
These recent events are part of a broader pattern of Israeli military operations targeting Iran-backed militias in Syria. A study by the Harmoon Center for Contemporary Studies has documented a significant escalation in the frequency of these attacks, with a total of 101 fatalities and 32 wounded, including eight Iranian leaders, from October 2023 to February 2024.
The attacks have not been limited to Damascus, as similar incidents have occurred in other areas of Syria, including the town of Sayyida Zainab and the city of Homs. The targeting of residential areas and the presence of Iranian militia leaders in these locations have sparked controversy and ridicule on social media platforms in Syria, reflecting the concerns of civilians about the risks posed by these airstrikes.
The repeated assassinations of Iranian militia leaders in Syria, including high-ranking figures such as Brigadier General Ali Aghazadeh and General Radhi Mousavi, have underscored the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran in the region. These targeted killings have inflicted significant losses on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliated militias operating in Syria.
The situation has also prompted skepticism and criticism regarding the presence of Iranian militia leaders in residential neighborhoods, raising questions about the potential endangerment of civilian lives. The Syrian population has expressed their concerns through social media, using humor and satire to cope with the tense and precarious circumstances they find themselves in.
