Israel continued to carry out airstrikes across the region today, with Syrian state media reporting the Damascus suburb of Sayeda Zeinab was hit multiple times. Numerous civilian sites were hit, resulting in material losses.
Sayeda Zeinab is particularly significant for Shi’ite Muslims as it is the site of a Sayeda Zeinab Mosque, held to be the burial site of Mohammed’s granddaughter. As a result, the location is extremely popular for pilgrimages. The area is also home to many Palestinian refugees.
Details of today’s strike are still emerging. Israel initially didn’t comment, though later in the day they said that they were targeting Hezbollah intelligence assets. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which often serves as a de facto mouthpiece for Israel, said the three strikes in the area targeted farms previously used as camps by Hezbollah and Iran.
There are reports of casualties, although these have not yet been confirmed. Sayeda Zeinab is a heavily populated part of metro Damascus, so numerous casualties would not be surprising. If the attacks did strike less densely populated farm areas, the number might be lower.
Still, any attacks in such an important area are going to be provocative to Shi’ites. Israel has been increasing its attacks in Syria since its invasion of Lebanon began in late September. On Friday alone, Israeli airstrikes killed 10 people, almost all civilians, in Qusayr.
Beyond airstrikes, Israel also confirmed a ground raid in recent months in southern Syria. In that raid, they captured a Syrian citizen, who they claimed was spying on Israeli troop movements in occupied Golan Heights.
