At least 14 people were killed late Sunday in Israeli airstrikes targeting the area around Masyaf, a city in Syria’s Hama province, according to Syria’s state news agency. The strikes reportedly hit a significant military research center near Masyaf, believed to be involved in chemical weapons production and housing Iranian military experts.
Two regional intelligence sources indicated that the facility, known for its role in weapons production, was struck multiple times. Israel has not commented on the attack, following its usual policy of silence on specific operations in Syria.
Since the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians and soldiers, Israel has intensified its strikes on Iranian-backed militia targets in Syria, as well as on Syrian army air defenses and military forces.
A military source told Sana news agency that the Israeli airstrike was launched from north-western Lebanon around 11:20 PM on Sunday, targeting several military sites in central Syria. The source added that Syrian air defense systems managed to intercept and shoot down some of the missiles, though no further details were provided.
Local health officials reported that 43 people were injured in the strikes, with several in critical condition. Additionally, the strikes ignited two fires that Syrian firefighters were working to control.
This incident is one of the most significant Israeli attacks on Syria since the war in Gaza began. Earlier in April, suspected Israeli warplanes bombed Iran’s embassy in Syria, killing seven military advisers, including three senior commanders.