Israel Suspected in Recent Airstrikes in Syria and Iran
On Sunday night, unidentified aircraft reportedly struck a convoy of Iranian trucks at the al-Qaim crossing on the Syria-Iraq border, killing seven people. This follows a strong explosion that occurred in an ammunition depot in the city of Isfahan, central Iran, the day prior.[0] According to a security source, the aircraft targeted the trucks in the al-Bukamal region after crossing from Iraq.
Israel's military typically does not comment on specific strikes in Syria, though they have admitted to conducting hundreds of sorties against Iran-backed groups attempting to gain a foothold in the country in the last decade.[1] These airstrikes have targeted regime-controlled areas of Syria, as well as Deir ez-Zor, and have often targeted Iran-affiliated militias such as Lebanon's Hezbollah group.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that six refrigerated trucks that had crossed into the area from Iraq were targeted at the same time as drones of the Global Coalition were flying in the air.[2] In November, a number of trucks were also reportedly targeted in some kind of airstrike in the same area.
U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal that Israel was responsible for the drone strike on Saturday that targeted a military facility inside Iran.[3] This is the latest in a series of recent airstrikes that have been attributed to Israel in the region.
0. “After targeting Iran.. dead in targeting of trucks by unknown aircraft in al-Bukamal – updated – ANHA | HAWARNEWS …” ANHA, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/after-targeting-iran-dead-in-targeting-of-trucks-by-unknown-aircraft-in-al-bukamal-updated-h34948.html
1. “Aircraft said to strike convoy of Iranian militia trucks on Syria-Iraq border” The Times of Israel, 29 Jan. 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/warplanes-said-to-strike-convoy-of-iranian-militia-trucks-on-syria-iraq-border
2. “At least seven killed in airstrikes targeting convoy in Syria: Monitor” Rudaw Media Network, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/30012023
3. “Seven killed in airstrike on truck convoy in eastern Syria–report” JNS.org, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.jns.org/seven-killed-in-airstrike-on-iranian-weapons-convoy-in-syria/
