Two Israeli officials described the attack as an attempt to assassinate a Hezbollah official involved in weapons smuggling. It came as Israel continued to press its campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy.The New York Times reports that on Oct. 8, 2024 at 5:48 p.m. ET, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on a residential building near the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria. According to two Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the strikes were an attempt to assassinate a high-ranking Hezbollah official involved in weapons smuggling. The targeted building was located in the Mezzeh district of Damascus, a heavily fortified area that houses foreign embassies and security buildings. The attack resulted in the deaths of seven civilians, including women and children.

It is unclear if the targeted official was among the casualties, but the Iranian Embassy in Damascus released a statement on Tuesday stating that no Iranian citizens were killed or injured in the strike. This information has not been independently verified.

The motive for the attack is believed to be retaliation for Iran’s launch of over 200 missiles at Israel the previous week. In April, Israel also confirmed that it had struck part of the Iranian Embassy complex in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of several senior commanders and officers.

In addition to the airstrikes in Syria, Israel also sent troops into Lebanon and bombarded the Hezbollah-dominated suburbs south of Beirut. Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, responded by firing approximately 180 projectiles into northern Israel. No injuries were reported, but a home was hit near Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city. This is the second time in recent days that areas near Haifa have been targeted by Hezbollah rockets.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed groups has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. Last week, Israel sent ground troops into southern Lebanon in an attempt to stop the attacks and eliminate the threat near its border.

In related news, Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, has postponed a meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III to discuss Israel’s military response to Iran’s recent missile barrage. The reason for the delay has not been disclosed.

There are also reports that Russian arms dealer Viktor A. Bout is attempting to broker a deal with Houthi militants in Yemen, who are also backed by Iran and have been attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas. The negotiations are ongoing, but no deal has been reached yet. 

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