Damascus: Israeli air strikes near the Syrian capital of Damascus killed six fighters, including a senior commander, on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The strikes targeted a military complex in the town of Kiswah, south of Damascus, where the Syrian army and its allies have been based. The strikes also damaged a nearby ammunition depot, the Observatory said.
The Syrian government has not commented on the strikes. The Israeli military has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria in recent years, targeting Iranian and Hezbollah forces, which it says are using the country to stage attacks against Israel.
The strikes have often been met with condemnation from the Syrian government and its allies, but Israel has refused to stop.
The strikes on Tuesday come amid a renewed escalation of violence in Syria. On Monday, the Syrian army and its allies launched a major offensive against the Islamic State group in the country’s east.
The offensive has been met with fierce resistance from IS, and the fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people.
The Israeli strikes are likely to further complicate the situation in Syria. They could also lead to further retaliation from the Syrian government and its allies.
The strikes come at a time when the international community is trying to broker a ceasefire in Syria. The United Nations has been leading efforts to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table, but so far, the talks have been unsuccessful.
The Israeli strikes are likely to make it more difficult to achieve a ceasefire. They could also lead to further escalation of violence, which could have a devastating impact on the Syrian people.