Israel Hits Damascus As Iran Hints At Giving Syria Weapons
Israel struck multiple sites in Syria hours after Iran hinted that it would give Syria weapons to "boost" its military power.
Israel struck multiple sites in Syria hours after Iran hinted that it would give Syria weapons to "boost" its military power.
In a meeting between the defense ministers of Iran and Syria Saturday, the Iranian official said his country is willing to “utilize its full capabilities” to help Syria strengthen its “defense and deterrence” against Israel and the United States.
Shortly after, the Syrian army announced that Israeli missiles had hit “several points” in southern Syria early Sunday local time, injuring one soldier and causing some “material damage”.
No more details were offered immediately, neither by Syria nor by Israel –which rarely comments on such events. Several local sources reported, however, that the targets had links with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and were located around the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Syrian opposition sources indicated Israel launched missiles from the Golan Heights targeting the Damascus countryside. Some reports spoke of large explosions lighting up the night sky.
Israel is known to launch frequent airstrikes inside Syria, often targeting IRGC-related sites or personnel. These airstrikes have intensified since October 7, when Hamas forces stormed Israeli territory bordering Gaza, killing more than a thousand civilians and soldiers.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has recorded 24 Israeli attacks inside Syria this year, killing more than 40, including members of Hezbollah and the IRGC.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have scaled back deployment of senior officers in Syria due to a spate of deadly Israeli strikes and were relying more on allied Shi'ite militia to preserve their sway there, Reuters reported in February.
The attacks early Sunday seem to have hit a weapons depot linked to Iran and a military airport, both in the outskirts of Damascus. SOHR has said that two Hezbollah bases in north-east Syria have been targeted.
It’s unclear if the timing has had anything to do with the meeting between the defense ministers of Iran and Syria Saturday –where the Iranian general warned Israel and America not to ‘intensify’ the ongoing crisis in the region.
Iran and its regional allies, identifying themselves as the Axis of Resistance, have been in a state of heightened military tension since last October, but have so far managed to avert a full-blown war, thanks also to the Biden administration’s reluctance to confront Iran.
The Israeli government, however, has been far more willing to launch direct attacks on Iranian interests, especially in Syria, where several IRGC officers were killed a few months ago. As a result, the regime in Tehran seems to have slowed the flow of its IRGC personnel into Syria.
The scale and significance of the latest attack is yet to be known. So is Iran’s response, if any. Recent history suggests that Iran prefers to let such attacks go unanswered, focusing instead on enabling and coordinating its allied groups to keep threatening US and Israeli interests.
Reports emerged Friday that senior Houthi and Hamas representatives held a rare meeting in Lebanon last week to discuss “expanding confrontations and encircling" Israel. Other Palestinian factions were also present at the meeting, according to AFP, including the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The aim, AFP reports, was to find ways to “coordinate their actions of resistance" for the "next stage" of the war in Gaza. It is hard to imagine Iran –or IRGC’s Quds Force, to be more specific– not having played a leading role in this.
In the final days of the current Iranian year 1402 (ending March 20), Iran International reached out to its audience to inquire about their hopes for the coming year. While dozens of responses varied widely, a prevailing sentiment was that the realization of these hopes hinges on changing the current regime.
Desire for Happiness and Peace One citizen expressed, "I wish for the Islamic Republic to vanish, allowing people to find peace and reclaim their lives."
Others echoed similar sentiments, wishing for "happiness and peace of mind" for Iranians, emphasizing the need for the regime's removal to achieve this.
Most responses received through social media carried pseudonyms, considering the risks involved for people inside the country from expressing their views.
Another individual remarked, "In recent years, we've endured more than our fair share of hardship. Iranians are good people who don't deserve this suffering. I hope for a future where we can lead peaceful and healthy lives after the fall of the mullahs, especially [Supreme Leader] Ali Khamenei."
Many messages highlighted the cruelty, oppression, theft, and tyranny perpetrated by the Islamic Republic. They labeled the regime as an occupier of Iran.
Honoring the Victims of Protests
Numerous Iranians referenced the killings of protesters by security forces in recent years, particularly during the nationwide uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in morality-police custody in September 2002. They believed that the pain and grief of bereaved families could only be somewhat alleviated by removing Iran’s government from "the hands of the mullahs, the IRGC forces, and the current leaders."
Observing an ancient Iranian tradition, many Iranians paid tribute to protest victims by visiting their graves on March 14, the last Thursday of the Iranian year.
Unity to Oust the Government
In recent days, Iran International received messages urging the public, especially opposition forces and groups, to unite against the Islamic Republic in the new year.
One citizen stated, "For the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement to succeed, we need targeted planning and protests. I hope for a united opposition and a strong coalition in the coming year."
Another noted, "I understand that my wish for the regime's collapse and the prosecution of its officials may not materialize for at least the next five years. The reason is that none of the world's politicians seem determined to effect regime change, as its survival, rather than its collapse, serves the interests of foreign countries."
Over the years, prominent dissidents and opposition figures, especially in recent months, have urged Western governments to heed the Iranian nation's call for regime change.
Many Iranians demand the collapse of the authoritarian government, followed by free elections with international observers and the establishment of a democratic, secular system. Additionally, many expressed a desire for the return of Iran’s exiled prince, Reza Pahlavi, to form a new government and restore order to the country.
Some wished for the return of Iranians forced to leave the country due to repression, who now yearn to return home.
Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity
Messages frequently emphasized the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the formation of a government free from clerical interference, the prosecution of regime officials, and women's freedom from compulsory hijab. Other common wishes included a prosperous economy with affordable prices, peace and security in Iran and the Middle East, and freedom of expression.
Political prisoner Mahmoud Mehrabi, incarcerated in Esfahan’s Central Prison for over a year, expressed that true Norouz celebrations would only occur when genuine happiness pervades Iranian society.
Mehrabi emphasized that the transition from despair to joy can only be accomplished by the people themselves.
A middle-aged woman added, "I wish our children could experience happiness and freedom in the new year. May all our wishes be fulfilled."