Israel attacks Syria, missiles fall near hospital in Damascus

According to the Syrian state news agency SANA, Israeli strikes late in the evening on Friday, May 2, targeted the provinces of Damascus, Hama, and Daraa.

Among the targets of the Israeli Air Force were the positions of the 41st Division of the Syrian Army near a hospital on the outskirts of Damascus, as well as missile forces in the northern part of Daraa province.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially confirmed the airstrikes.

"A short while ago, the IDF struck a military site, anti-aircraft cannons, and surface-to-air missile infrastructure in Syria," the message stated.

The military added that they would continue to act in the interests of protecting the citizens of the State of Israel.

Israel's strikes on Syria

After the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December and the rise to power of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, Israeli forces have regularly targeted military sites in Syria.

The goal of these strikes is to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of "hostile forces" and groups like the Islamic State.

The airstrikes also serve as a warning to the new Islamist rulers in Damascus, whom Israel considers a potential threat to its border.

On the night of May 2, the IDF launched an attack on the territory of the presidential palace in Damascus. According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the strike was "a clear signal to the Syrian regime," led by Islamists, about Israel's readiness to escalate military actions, including strikes to support the Druze minority in the country.

Furthermore, Israel is preparing a list of military and government sites for potential strikes on Syria.

Israel frequently bombed Syria while the country was under Assad's control, targeting a foothold created by his ally Iran during the civil war.

Additionally, the administration of US President Donald Trump decided to reduce the military presence in Syria and close several military bases in the country.