The Israeli Air Force struck a Palestinian Islamic Jihad headquarters in Damascus on Thursday, targeting senior members of the terror group who were allegedly planning attacks against Israeli forces along the northern border, according to Israeli officials and Syrian reports. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports at least one dead in the attack.
A Syrian security source told Reuters that the target was a "Palestinian figure." The Saudi-owned Al-Hadath news channel also reported that the strike hit a senior Palestinian official. Images from the site, located in the Dummar Project area on the outskirts of Damascus, showed significant destruction and thick plumes of smoke. Syrian media reported eight casualties but did not provide further details.
Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the attack, saying Israel would not allow terror groups to operate freely in Syria.
"A short while ago, the IAF conducted an intelligence-based strike on a terrorist command center belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization in Damascus," an IDF statement said. "The command center was used to plan and direct terrorist activities by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad against the State of Israel.
"The IDF will not allow terrorist organizations to entrench themselves in Syrian territory and operate against the State of Israel, and will respond forcefully to any such entrenchment.
"The IDF will continue to act against Palestinian terrorist organizations wherever necessary and will continue to operate to protect the citizens of the State of Israel."
The moment the bomb hit the terror group's Damascus headquarters
(Video: IDF )
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The strike is part of a series of Israeli military operations in Syria following the collapse of President Bashar Assad’s regime in December. Some of these attacks have targeted Palestinian terror factions attempting to establish a foothold in the country under Syria’s new jihadist-led government, headed by President Ahmad al-Sharaa.