Child killed, dozens injured in Israeli attack on Baniyas in Syria

Israel launched air strikes on the central region of Syria and the coastal city of Baniyas, killing one child and injuring ten civilians, Syrian state media reported on Wednesday, citing a military source.

“At around 7:30 p.m., the Israeli enemy launched an airstrike from the direction of Lebanese territory, targeting a location in the central region and a residential building in Baniyas… resulting in the death of a girl and the injury of ten civilians,” the source was quoted as saying.

Syrian state media had reported earlier on Wednesday that the country’s air defenses had intercepted “enemy targets” over Homs, but without providing further details.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the incidents; the country does not usually comment on specific reports of attacks in Syria.

Israel has been carrying out attacks for years on targets in Syria that it believes are linked to Iran, where Tehran’s influence has grown since the country supported President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that began in 2011.

Since the start of the Gaza war last October, reports of Israeli attacks on Syria have increased significantly.

In April, Iran responded by firing rockets at Israel after a suspected Israeli attack destroyed a building on the Iranian embassy grounds in Damascus and killed several Iranian officers, including a senior general.