At least 68 people were killed and 50 others injured in an airstrike on Palmyra, Syria, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Thursday.
According to the rights group, 42 of those killed were Syrian members of militias allied with the Islamic Republic, while 22 others were non-Syrians, primarily members of Iraq’s al-Nujaba militia. Four Hezbollah operatives were also among the dead.
The Wednesday attack, which the rights group attributed to Israel, targeted three sites in Palmyra, including an arms depot in the Al-Jam’iya neighborhood, another location near an industrial area, and a meeting place for leaders of pro-Iranian militias, including al-Nujaba members and a Hezbollah commander. Some of the locations were near Palmyra’s famed archaeological sites, according to initial reports.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense confirmed that 10 Syrian soldiers were killed in the strike, which caused significant damage to infrastructure and buildings in the surrounding area.
Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, which also attributed the strike to Israel, also said that residential buildings, an industrial area, and a militia headquarters were among the targets.
The Israeli military has not commented on the airstrike, consistent with its usual policy on such operations. However, the attacks have been ongoing for several years as the Jewish state continues to target Iranian-backed groups in Syria and Iranian military infrastructure.
The attack follows strikes by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) earlier this month on nine targets linked to Iran in Syria. The strikes were intended to limit the operational capacity of Iran-affiliated groups accused of targeting US and coalition forces.
“Our message is clear. Attacks against US and coalition partners in the region will not be tolerated,” CENTCOM commander Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement on the strikes on November 12. “We will continue to take every step necessary to protect our personnel and coalition partners and respond to reckless attacks.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group known for its opposition to the Assad regime. highlight the roles of foreign-backed groups operating in Syria’s ongoing conflict, including those supported by Iran.