Syrian Foreign Ministry Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on Palmyra, central Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned on Wednesday Israeli airstrikes on Palmyra, a city in the Homs countryside of central Syria.
In a statement to the state-run news agency SANA, the ministry described the attack as “a horrific crime,” reporting that it claimed the lives of 36 civilians and injured dozens more. The strikes targeted several residential buildings, causing extensive material damage in the area, the ministry added.
The statement accused Israel of threatening regional stability, stating that “crimes committed in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine pose a real threat to the security and stability of the region.”
The ministry criticized the UN Security Council, claiming that its reliance on the influence of one state undermines its credibility in maintaining international peace and security.
Earlier reports indicated that Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes in Palmyra. While the Syrian government highlighted civilian casualties, opposition-affiliated outlets suggested that the strikes targeted positions held by Iranian-backed militias near the city, labeling the area a strategic base for such groups.
These airstrikes come in the wake of Israeli raids earlier this week in the Mezzeh neighborhood of Damascus. Those strikes reportedly killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Jihad Movement, according to the organization.
The recent escalation highlights ongoing tensions in the region as Israel continues to target what it describes as threats to its national security, including Iranian-linked military activities in Syria.