A series of Israeli airstrikes on military sites in central Syria has left at least 16 people dead and 36 wounded, according to Syrian state media.
The strikes, which targeted areas near Masyaf in Hama province, have been condemned as “blatant aggression” by Syria’s foreign ministry and a “criminal attack” by Iran’s foreign ministry.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that 25 people were killed, including five civilians, and that the strikes destroyed buildings and military facilities in the scientific research area in Masyaf.
The area is allegedly linked to chemical weapons production and has been targeted by Israeli strikes in the past.
Israel has not commented on the strikes but has previously acknowledged carrying out hundreds of attacks in Syria against targets linked to Iran and allied armed groups. The strikes are part of an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, with Israel seeking to prevent Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria.
The Syrian government has denied allegations of chemical weapons production at the Masyaf facility, but Western intelligence agencies have previously made claims of violations.
The facility was targeted in a suspected Israeli strike in 2017, a day after a deadly chemical attack on a rebel-held town in northern Syria.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the latest strikes bring the total number of targets hit by Israel in Syria this year to 140, resulting in the deaths of at least 205 fighters and 25 civilians,
The escalating conflict has sparked international concern, with Iran retaliating against Israel in April with a direct military attack.
