The attack, which targeted a multi-storey residential building, claimed six lives according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Israel has been accused of escalating strikes on senior Iranian and allied figures in Syria and Lebanon in recent weeks, raising concerns about the potential expansion of the Gaza conflict. Iran’s Mehr news agency quoted an informed source confirming the deaths of the Revolutionary Guards’ Syria intel chief, his deputy, and two other Guards members. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) acknowledged the loss of four members in the strike, attributing it to Israel, its regional adversary. The mid-morning strike, which generated a large plume of smoke, was also reported by Syrian state media. The destroyed building, located in Damascus’ Mazzeh neighborhood, was described by Syria’s official news agency, SANA, as a target of “Israeli aggression.” At the scene, ambulances, firefighters, and rescue teams were present, with civil defense actively searching for survivors under the rubble of the collapsed building. AFP video footage showed damaged cars covered in rubble near the strike site. The Israeli army declined to comment on the reports. Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes on Syrian territory over the past decade, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Syrian army positions. The frequency of attacks has increased since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7. The Observatory reported that the strike targeted a four-storey building, killing six people and completely destroying the structure where Iran-aligned leaders were meeting in Damascus. The building, belonging to the IRGC, was situated in a high-security zone known for housing IRGC leaders and pro-Iran Palestinian factions. The Mazzeh area is also home to the United Nations’ headquarters, embassies, and restaurants. The Observatory’s director suggested that the intended targets were likely senior members of Tehran-backed groups or Iranian forces. In December, an Israeli airstrike killed a senior Iranian general in Syria, and recent months have seen regular cross-border exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israel rarely comments on individual strikes targeting Syria but has consistently stated its opposition to Iran expanding its presence in the country.
