At least 42 people, most of them Syrian soldiers, and six Hezbollah militants were killed this Friday, March 29, by Israeli attacks near Aleppo, in northern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). In addition, the Israeli Army claimed in recent hours that it killed the deputy commander of Hezbollah's rocket and missile unit, Ali Abed Akhsan Naim, during an aerial attack in Lebanon.
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Israeli forces intensify their offensives against the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, in parallel with their war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The troops of the country led by Benjamin Netanyahu attacked this Friday, March 29 his deadliest attack in Syria since 2021. At least 42 people died – 36 Syrian soldiers and six fighters from the Lebanese group Hezbollah-, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH).
The airstrikes took place near Aleppo, in the north of the country, and hit Shiite movement missile depots in the suburb of Jibreen, near Aleppo international airport, and the neighboring town of Safira, home to a sprawling military installation. added the organization, based in London, but which monitors the war in Syria with a wide network of collaborators in that Middle Eastern country.
For its part, The Syrian Ministry of Defense indicated this Friday that several civilians and soldiers were killed after the Israeli Army and militant groups launched attacks on Aleppo.
Those airstrikes coincided with drone attacks, carried out from Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo, that Syria's Defense Ministry described as being carried out by “terrorist organizations” against civilians in and around Aleppo.
However, the Ministry did not specify the death toll or clarify whether the victims were caused by Israeli airstrikes or assaults by militant groups.
Israel claims that forces from Iran and its allies, such as Hezbollah, have entrenched themselves throughout Syria, including around Aleppo and the capital, Damascus.
The military of the Jewish-majority state has launched hundreds of air strikes against “targets” in Syria since that country's civil war began in 2011, as it seeks to cut off Hezbollah's supply routes to Lebanon.
But the frequency of assaults has increased since the Israeli Army's ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza began on October 7. The Islamist group is backed by Hezbollah.
Since then, nearly six months ago, Israeli troops have exchanged cross-border fire almost daily with the Lebanese Shiite movement, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Israeli army says it killed Hezbollah deputy commander in Lebanon
In the last few hours, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that an airstrike killed Ali Abed Akhsan Naim, deputy commander of Hezbollah's rocket and missile unit. The events took place in the Bazouriye area, in the south of Lebanese territory.
“Earlier today (March 29), an Air Force plane attacked and eliminated Ali Abed Akhsan Naim, the deputy commander of Hezbollah's rocket and missile unit in the Bazouriye area,” the military institution said in a statement. .
The military institution assured that he is one of the leaders of the militia supported by Iran in launching rockets with heavy warheads. And he added that the man was responsible for planning and launching attacks against Israeli civilians.
The @IDF releases footage of its strike in southern Lebanon's Bazouriye, saying it eliminated Ali Abed Akhsan Naim, the deputy commander of Hezbollah's Rocket and Missile Unit.
Naim “was considered to be a significant source of knowledge in the terrorist organization, and… https://t.co/wdahg9kJW3 pic.twitter.com/ToFpg6l3Zf
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) March 29, 2024
The Lebanese National News Agency (ANN) reported that the attack targeted a vehicle in the area that was completely burned, leaving at least one dead and an undetermined number of injured.
This new attack comes at a time of high tension between the Israeli military and the Shiite group in its neighboring country. Furthermore, it occurs two days after one of the bloodiest days in almost six months of frequent clashes, which left 15 dead in Lebanon and one civilian murdered in Israel.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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