3 killed in Israeli strike on outskirts of Damascus

At least three people were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus, a war monitor reported on Thursday.

It added that 11 others were wounded as a result of shrapnel that fell on houses from a Syrian air defence missile that was launched to confront the Wednesday night attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of sources across the country, said the strike targeted the Jihad al-Bina Foundation, which is affiliated with the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and Iranian groups.

The target was about 700 meters from the Sayyida shrine, an important Shiite religious site frequently visited by Iranian and Lebanese loyal to Hezbollah.

It also said explosions were heard at the Tal Sahn radar site, east of the town of Malah in the eastern countryside of Suwayda.

It is not known whether it was the result of Israeli targeting or from Syrian rockets which were launched from the site to confront Israeli missiles.

There was no comment by the Israeli army.

Israel’s air force repeatedly bombs targets in neighbouring Syria in an attempt to prevent Iran and its allied militias from expanding their military influence in the country.

There have been more attacks since the Gaza war began on Oct. 7.