Israeli Airstrike in Western Syria Kills Child and Injures Over 10 Civilians

On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Baniyas, a city in Tartous province, western Syria, resulting in the death of a child and injuries to over 10 civilians. The attack, launched from Lebanese territory around 19:30, also caused significant material damage.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the airstrike targeted a site in the central region and a residential building in Baniyas. An unnamed military source described the incident as an act of 'air aggression' by the Israeli enemy. As of 19:05 GMT, there was no comment from the Israeli authorities.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and conflict in the Middle East, with implications for regional stability and global security. The continued airstrikes and violence could lead to further escalation and humanitarian crises in the region.

This incident is part of a pattern of Israeli attacks on Iran-backed groups and Syrian regime military points since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011. Israel has carried out hundreds of such attacks, aiming to counter Iranian influence in the region.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, reported that the number of wounded civilians was actually 20. Additionally, the Observatory stated that the Israeli regime also targeted the countryside of the eastern Syrian city of Homs, killing three people identified as Syrian fighters cooperating with Hezbollah.

Syria and Israel remain technically at war because of Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights since 1967. The frequency of Israeli strikes has increased significantly since last October, when Israel began a military campaign against the Gaza Strip.

In a recent incident, the Israeli military carried out an aerial assault against two vehicles in Homs Province, killing two Hezbollah members. This ongoing conflict highlights the broader regional tensions and the complex web of alliances and hostilities in the Middle East.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the attack, calling it a 'savage continuation of the Zionist terrorist government's genocide and expansionism program.' The ministry also emphasized the international community's responsibility to condemn these actions.

This latest airstrike in Baniyas highlights the ongoing volatility and human cost of the Syrian conflict, which has been exacerbated by external interventions and regional power struggles.

Key Takeaways

• Israeli airstrike kills 1 child, injures 10+ civilians in Baniyas, Syria.
• Airstrike targeted residential building, caused significant material damage.
• Incident part of ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran-backed groups in Syria.
• Syria and Israel remain technically at war due to Golan Heights occupation.
• Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns attack as "Zionist terrorist" act.