The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Israel has conducted attacks on the Mazzeh suburb of Damascus, following a day of lethal strikes targeting what Israel claimed were militant positions in the Syrian capital.
Explosions were reported earlier today in areas surrounding Damascus.
SANA issued a news flash stating, “Israeli aggression targets the Mazzeh area in Damascus,” but did not provide additional details.
There was no immediate response from Israeli authorities.
In the past, high-rise buildings in Mazzeh have been utilized by the authorities to accommodate leaders of Palestinian factions, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
State media reported that 20 individuals lost their lives yesterday due to Israeli strikes on residential structures in the Mazzeh and Qudsaya suburbs. Israel claimed these attacks were aimed at military facilities and the headquarters of Islamic Jihad.
In a separate operation, the Israeli military stated it targeted transit routes along the Syrian-Lebanese border that were allegedly used for transferring weapons to Hezbollah.
Additionally, Syrian state media reported that an Israeli strike completely obliterated a bridge in the Qusayr region of southwest Syria’s Homs, near the northern Lebanon border.
Iran Supports Lebanon Ceasefire Negotiations
A senior Iranian official signaled that Iran supports any resolution reached by Lebanon in negotiations for a ceasefire with Israel, indicating Tehran’s desire to end a conflict that has severely affected its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah.
For a fourth consecutive day, Israel launched airstrikes in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, destroying buildings. The escalation in bombardment has coincided with indications of movement in US-led diplomacy towards a ceasefire.
According to two senior Lebanese political sources, the US ambassador to Lebanon presented a draft ceasefire proposal to the Speaker of Lebanon’s Parliament, Nabih Berri, the previous day. Mr. Berri, who is backed by Hezbollah to negotiate, met with senior Iranian official Ali Larijani today.
When asked at a news conference if he intended to undermine the US ceasefire initiative in Beirut, Mr. Larijani responded, “We are not looking to sabotage anything. We seek a solution to the problems.”
He added, “We support the Lebanese government under all circumstances. Those who are causing disruption are Netanyahu and his associates,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hezbollah was established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982 and has been armed and financed by Tehran ever since.
Israel has intensified airstrikes against the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs
A senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that more time is necessary to finalize the ceasefire but expressed optimism about its potential.
The outgoing US administration appears eager to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon, even as efforts to resolve Israel’s parallel conflict in Gaza seem to be faltering.
World powers have stated that any ceasefire in Lebanon must align with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which concluded the previous 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. This resolution requires Hezbollah to relocate weapons and fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 20 kilometers north of the border.
Israel insists on retaining the ability to respond should Hezbollah violate any agreement, a condition Lebanon has rejected.
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During a meeting with Mr. Larijani, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, emphasized the need for support regarding Lebanon’s stance on implementing Resolution 1701 and labeled this a priority alongside ceasing “Israeli aggression,” according to a statement from his office.
Mr. Larijani underscored that “Iran supports any decision made by the government, especially Resolution 1701,” the statement noted.
Israel commenced its ground and air offensive against Hezbollah in late September, following nearly a year of cross-border confrontations alongside the Gaza war. It claims that the objective is to ensure the safe return of tens of thousands of Israelis who were evacuated from northern Israel under fire from Hezbollah.
The campaign has displaced over one million Lebanese, resulting in a humanitarian crisis.
