Israeli strikes on Syria’s Palmyra kill 36, state media say

An Israeli attack on the historic Syrian city of Palmyra on Wednesday killed 36 people and injured more than 50, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. The attack reportedly targeted residential buildings and an industrial area.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the incident. SANA, quoting a military official, said, “At approximately 1:30 p.m. today, the Israeli enemy launched an air attack from the direction of the al-Tanf area, targeting several buildings in the city of Palmyra in the Syrian desert, which led to the martyrdom of 36 people and the injury of more than 50 others.” The report also mentioned the attack caused extensive damage to the buildings and surrounding areas.

Israel has conducted strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria for years, intensifying its operations since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. Last week, the Israeli military reported targeting transit routes along the Syrian-Lebanese border used to transfer weapons to Hezbollah.

Syrian state media also reported multiple Israeli attacks last week in Homs province, which borders Lebanon. Palmyra, situated in Homs, is home to an ancient city designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The site was seized and partially destroyed by Islamic State militants in 2015 before being reclaimed by the Syrian army.