2023 Damascus airstrike

{{Article for deletion/dated|page=2023 Damascus airstrike|timestamp=20250530020753|year=2025|month=May|day=30|substed=yes|help=off}}

{{Infobox military operation

| name = 2023 Damascus airstrike

| partof = Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict

| subtitle =

| image =

| image_upright =

| alt =

| caption =

| scope =

| type =

| location = Damascus Governorate, Syria

| location2 =

| coordinates =

| coordinates2 =

| map_type =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| map_label =

| map_label2 =

| planned =

| planned_by =

| commanded_by =

| objective = Reducing Iran's influence

| target = Ammunition depot

| date = {{start date|2023|2|19|df=y}}

| time =

| time-begin = 00:22

| time-end =

| timezone = UTC+3

| executed_by = {{flag|Israel|air force}} (suspected)

| outcome =

| casualties = 15 killed, 15 injured

| injuries =

}}

On 18 February, an airstrike, suspected to have been carried out by the Israeli Air Force, targeted sites in the Damascus Governorate, including a residential building.{{cite web |last=Al-Khalidi |first=Suleiman |date=2023-02-18 |title=Israeli missile strikes building in central Damascus, several casualties |url=https://news.yahoo.com/israeli-missile-strikes-building-central-225156459.html |website=news.yahoo.com}} Fifteen people were killed, and another fifteen were injured.{{cite web |date=2023-02-19 |title=شهداء وجرحى جراء العدوان الإسرائيلي على أحياء سكنية في دمشق |trans-title=Martyrs and wounded as a result of the Israeli aggression on residential neighborhoods in Damascus |url=https://www.sana.sy/?p=1843749 |website=Syrian Arab News Agency |language=ar}}

Background

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, many international airstrikes have been carried out. In Syria, there is a large presence of Iranian troops as well as allies including Hezbollah and foreign militias from Iraq and Afghanistan. The strike took place in the same area where Hezbollah's senior commander, Imad Mughniyeh, was assassinated in 2008.{{cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=19 February 2023 |title=Syria says 5 killed, 15 wounded in Israeli strike on Damascus residential area |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-media-several-dead-in-israeli-strike-on-damascus-residential-area/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221231927/https://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-media-several-dead-in-israeli-strike-on-damascus-residential-area/ |archive-date=21 February 2023 |website=The Times of Israel}}

Attack

On 18 February, missiles, allegedly fired by Israel from the Golan Heights, struck heavily-guarded Iranian installations in the Kafr Sousa area of Damascus.{{cite news |last1=Chatterjee |first1=Phelan |title=Five killed in Israeli strike on Damascus, Syria says Published |work=BBC News |date=19 February 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64694099 |access-date=19 February 2023 |publisher=}}{{cite news |title=Deadly air strike on Kafr Sousa suburb of Damascus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/19/deadly-air-strike-on-kafr-sousa-suburb-of-damascus |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=The Guardian |date=19 February 2023 |publisher=}}{{cite web |last1=Al-Khalidi |first1=Suleiman |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Israeli missile strikes building in central Damascus, five dead |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-missile-strikes-building-central-damascus-several-casualties-witnesses-2023-02-18/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220054758/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-missile-strikes-building-central-damascus-several-casualties-witnesses-2023-02-18/ |archive-date=20 February 2023 |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=Reuters |publisher=}} According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR), the strike hit a warehouse used by Iranian and Hezbollah fighters. Per Orient News, the strike targeted Iranian militia officials at the so-called Iranian school.

Historic buildings near the Citadel of Damascus were damaged, which was blamed on the strike.{{cite web |date=19 February 2023 |title=More than a dozen killed in Israel's 'deadliest attack' on Syrian capital Damascus |url=https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20230219-more-than-a-dozen-people-killed-in-israel-s-deadliest-attack-on-syrian-capital-of-damascus |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=France24 |publisher=}} The strike damaged buildings near Umayyad Square, where multiple security installations are located.{{cite web |last1=Sanadiki |first1=Omar |title=Israeli missile strikes on Syrian capital leave five dead |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-missile-strikes-syria-damascus-five-dead-iran-hezbollah-rcna71359 |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=NBC News |date=19 February 2023 |publisher=}} Other civilian buildings were also damaged, resulting in 15 injuries. In Kfar Souseh, many regime-affiliated security complexes are located next to residential buildings.

A woman was killed in the Marzaa District, possibly due to Syrian anti-aircraft munitions.

According to Wael Alwan of Syrian think tank Jusoor, the strike may have been part of Israel's attempts to disrupt the flow of weapons from Iran to Syria.

=Casualties=

According to SOHR, 15 people, including at least 7 military fighters and 2 civilians, were killed.{{Cite web |date=19 February 2023 |title=Death toll update {{!}} Nine Syrian people including seven military figures and three officers among 15 killed by Israeli attack on Damascus |url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/289197/ |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights}} According to The National, Colonel Amjad Ali, nicknamed the 'butcher of Damascus', was among the dead.{{cite web |last=Oweis |first=Khaled Yacoub |date=19 February 2023 |title=Five killed in Israeli air strikes on Damascus, Syria says |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/syria/2023/02/19/syrian-state-media-israel-airstrikes-kill-5-in-damascus/ |website=The National (Abu Dhabi)}} Sources told Reuters that the airstrike targeted an installation where Iranian officials were meeting to advance military programs aimed at developing drone or missile capabilities.{{cite web |url=https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/article-732367 |title=Rocket strike in Damascus hit Iranian military experts, sources say |website=Jerusalem Post |date=22 February 2023}}

Reactions

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, considering it a "flagrant violation of international law".{{cite web | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/russia-condemns-israeli-strike-on-syria-as-flagrant-violation-of-international-law/ | title=Russia condemns Israeli strike on Syria as 'flagrant violation' of international law | website=The Times of Israel }} The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly denounced the strikes in Damascus, expressing their outrage at the destruction and civilian casualties caused.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-19 |title=Lebanon condemns Israeli strikes on Damascus |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1328827/lebanon-condemns-israeli-strikes-on-damascus.html |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=L'Orient Today}} Hamas strongly "condemned the Israeli attack and its targeting of residential neighborhoods in the capital, Damascus..."{{Cite web |title=فصائل فلسطينية تدين القصف الإسرائيلي لدمشق |trans-title=Palestinian factions condemn the Israeli bombing of Damascus |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/ar/إسرائيل/فصائل-فلسطينية-تدين-القصف-الإسرائيلي-لدمشق/2824554 |website=www.aa.com.tr |language=ar}} while the Islamic Jihad Movement stated that the bombing "reveals Israel's continuous efforts to target Syria and deepen the tragedy of its people who are healing their wounds after the devastating earthquake."