BEIRUT: In a recent development, Syrian state media reported on Tuesday that the Israeli military conducted airstrikes in the strategic eastern province of Deir el-Zour, resulting in injuries to two soldiers and significant material damage. Israel has not commented on these reported airstrikes.
Syria’s state news agency, SANA, cited an unnamed military official confirming that the airstrikes occurred late on Monday and targeted military positions within Deir el-Zour. This province, bordering Iraq, is known for its oil fields and holds immense strategic importance throughout Syria’s 13-year-long conflict. The region is under the control of Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces, making it a frequent target for Israeli airstrikes.
The Britain-based opposition war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and the activist collective Deir Ezzor 24 reported that the airstrike targeted positions in the Boukamal region along the Iraqi border—a stronghold for Iran-backed militia groups. However, they were unable to definitively identify the source of the airstrike.
Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes on targets within government-controlled areas of war-torn Syria in recent years, with a particular focus on airports in the capital, Damascus. However, Israel rarely acknowledges or discusses these operations. The airstrikes primarily target Syrian forces and Iranian-backed groups, and Deir el-Zour province has often been a focal point of these attacks.
