Situation at a glance: Activists report new Israeli air strike in Syria

Israel’s air force has again attacked targets in Syria, according to human rights activists. Warplanes attacked military “defense factories” of the deposed Syrian government south of Aleppo during the night, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. There was initially no information about possible victims. The Israeli military initially remained silent. Huge explosions were heard, according to the UK-based observatory.

After the overthrow of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad on December 8th, Israel massively expanded its attacks in the neighboring country. Since then, the Israeli Air Force has carried out around 500 attacks in the country, the human rights activists said. Israel’s army said it had destroyed up to 80 percent of its military capacity in Syria.

Israel: Iranian missile factory destroyed in Syria

Israel has attacked infrastructure in Syria several times in the past. Four months ago, the army said it destroyed an underground missile factory financed by Iran in Masjaf in western Syria. Hundreds of precision missiles were to be produced every year for Hezbollah in Lebanon and other pro-Iranian militias, a military spokesman said. More than 100 special forces who flew in by helicopter were involved in the operation around 500 kilometers north of the border with Israel.

According to the spokesman, the factory was put into operation shortly before the attack on September 8th. He called it a “strategic threat to the State of Israel” and a “flagship project of Iran.” Syria’s deposed ruler Assad was allied with Israel’s arch-enemy Iran.

According to its own statements, Israel’s military also bombed rocket launchers belonging to the Hezbollah militia in the south of Lebanon – despite the ceasefire that has been in effect since the end of November. In accordance with the ceasefire agreements, the Lebanese army was initially asked to take action against Hezbollah’s missile facilities. Only when this did not happen were the facilities attacked, the army explained. This could not initially be independently verified. Nothing was known about possible victims.

New attempt for ceasefire in Gaza

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a delegation to travel to Qatar today to continue negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages, according to his office. Qatar, together with Egypt and the USA, is mediating between Israel and Hamas, which reject direct negotiations with each other.

Hamas also wanted to send negotiators. A senior representative of the Islamist organization told the Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadid: “The chances are good that the negotiations will be successful this time.” Mussa Abu Marsuk did not say what his optimism was based on.

Shortly before, there had been reports that the negotiations were deadlocked. The Times of Israel quoted an Israeli official on Wednesday as saying there were no plans to send a delegation to Qatar or Egypt. It was unclear what had changed that a delegation was now traveling to Qatar, it was said the next day.

There have often been hopes of a breakthrough in the tough negotiations, but each time they have been disappointed. Compromise is extremely difficult because Israel and Hamas want to destroy each other.

Warring parties insist on demands

Israel demands a list of names of hostages held in the Gaza Strip who are still alive. According to media reports, Hamas said it needed a break in fighting to find out the whereabouts and health of the hostages. Israel considers this a false claim. There are believed to be around 100 hostages still in Gaza, many of whom are probably no longer alive. Hamas is reportedly demanding that Israel commit to an end to the war, which Netanyahu’s government rejects.

The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, which left 1,200 dead. According to Palestinian figures, more than 45,500 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began. The figure, which cannot be independently verified, does not distinguish between civilians and fighters.

According to Palestinian reports, at least 46 people were killed in renewed Israeli attacks. The Israeli army said it had attacked a Hamas command center in Khan Yunis, in the south of the sealed-off coastal strip. This information could not be verified either.

The attacks in Gaza continue

Hamas headquarters is said to be located in an area designated as a humanitarian zone. The army said measures were taken before the attack to protect civilians. Six Palestinians were killed in the bombing in Khan Yunis, officials at a clinic in the city said. Another 40 people were killed in the city of Gaza and its surroundings, according to the Hamas-controlled civil defense in the north. Israel’s army did not comment on the attacks there when asked. The information provided by both sides could not initially be independently verified.