Israel carried out air strikes on several sites in central Syria on Sunday night, the most violent aerial attacks on Syria this year, killing at least 18 people and injuring 37, as well as igniting wildfires and causing significant damage to infrastructure.
Following the attack, rescue workers and paramedics from different Syrian provinces were mobilized to the targeted region in the central Syrian province of Hama.
"This aggression came in waves; it was a brutal and savage aggression. Till now we have 18 killed and 37 injured. The injuries vary from critical to light. The health sector in Hama is doing its best by providing necessary aid to the injured," said Hasam Ghabbash, Syria's minister of health.
Local residents described the attacks as the longest air assault they had ever heard. According to eyewitnesses, communication lines, water pipes, and the electricity grid were damaged in the strikes that lasted for two hours.
"Yesterday we were at home and my children were sleeping. We heard the massive explosions that caused the buildings to tremble. The children woke up and they were in a panic. We looked out of the windows and saw the fires blazing in the forests next to us," said Bashar a local citizen.
"What happened yesterday is a first in terms of impact, sound and shock. At around 23:30 we heard a massive explosion. My child screamed fearing that we are about to die. I tried to calm her down, telling her that it would pass. My wife took the kids and hid in a place fearing that the explosions might reach us," said Muhammad Zeinati, another local resident.
Some people involved in rescue operations said they were targeted as they tried to help others.
"We were trying to help health care workers by evacuating the injured and the dead from the mountains. It was impossible to take the road because whatever went up there was targeted. While we were discussing other routes, suddenly a missile fell in front of us out of nowhere, everyone lay down on the ground and I was badly injured," said Muhammad Eisa, a firefighter who got injured while trying to extinguish the fire and help people.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the airstrikes, calling them a continuation of Israeli "aggression" aimed at escalating tensions in the region.
Israeli airstrikes in Syria cause death, injury
Israeli airstrikes in Syria cause death, injury
Israeli airstrikes in Syria cause death, injury
