The Israeli Air Force has reportedly struck the villa of Maher al-Assad, the brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, near Yarfur, Damascus. The airstrike occurred during a meeting that Maher was allegedly holding with Iranian officials.
Sources indicate that Maher al-Assad, who commands the Syrian Army’s 4th Division, has lost contact with the regime following the attack. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions in the area, and initial assessments suggest that the strike was part of Israel’s ongoing campaign against Iranian influence in Syria.
The airstrike is believed to be a response to increased tensions along the Israeli-Syrian border, particularly following recent rocket launches from Syria towards Israeli territory. Reports suggest that this strike serves as a warning not only to Maher al-Assad but also to his brother Bashar al-Assad for allowing Iranian forces to operate within Syria.
Israeli military sources have stated that these operations aim to disrupt Iranian military entrenchment in Syria and prevent further attacks on Israeli soil. The airstrike comes amid heightened fears of an expanded conflict involving Iranian proxies in the region.
Following the airstrike, Iranian officials condemned the attack as a “dangerous escalation” and called for immediate international intervention. The Iranian embassy in Lebanon described the strike as a “reprehensible crime” and warned that Israel would face consequences for its actions.
The Syrian government has yet to issue an official statement regarding Maher al-Assad’s status or the broader implications of this military action. However, analysts suggest that this incident could further strain relations between Israel and Iran, particularly as tensions remain high following recent events involving Hezbollah; the deaths of its leader and events involving other Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon.
