After massive alleged Israeli strike in Syria kills nearly 100, US concerned strikes in Iraq could be next

Sources in Syria reported a massive airstrike in the ancient city of Palmyra on Wednesday, believed to be carried out by the Israeli Air Force, which has yet to comment on the claims.

At least three targets were reportedly hit, with images and videos showing massive plumes rising from the location of the strikes. 

According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR), an opposition-linked group that reports on violence in the country, at least 68 people were killed in the strikes, with most of them being Syrian members of Iran-backed terror proxies or non-Syrian members of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba – an IRGC-backed group operating in support of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. 

FreeMalaysiaToday reported that 71 Iranian-affiliated militants were killed in the strike. 

The SOHR also reported that at least another 50 people were injured in the strikes, including seven civilians.

The human rights group said one of the targeted sites was a weapons depot used by the Iranian-backed militia, while a second site was hosting a meeting of its leadership. The third site was only identified as being owned by family members of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba. 

According to SOHR, the group has had a presence in Palmyra for years. 

The London-based organization stated that it has identified 152 Israeli strikes in Syria in 2024, resulting in the deaths of at least 352 combatants, mostly Iranian-affiliated fighters, although reports in Syrian social media claimed that at least 14 Syrian regime soldiers, including a general appointed by Assad, were killed in Wednesday’s strikes. 

Syria: Israel carried out unprecedented airstrikes today, bombing several targets in city of Palmyra, including the industrial district.
An ammunition warehouse was among the targets destroyed.
36 were killed and over 50 wounded.
Many Assad's soldiers slain (some pictured). pic.twitter.com/5Q5mdjGCpY

— QalaatM (@QalaatM) November 20, 2024

With Israel maintaining a consistent policy of striking Iranian groups operating in Syria despite its ongoing war efforts in Gaza and Lebanon, the U.S. government is reportedly concerned that the Jewish state could expand its area of operations to include Iraq, according to reports in Arab and Israeli media. 

A report on the Saudi news site al-Arabiya said the United States recently informed the Iraqi government that it had exhausted all avenues to pressure Israel to avoid airstrikes on targets in Iraq, in response to the continued attacks launched by Iranian-backed militias in the region. 

The U.S. warned that if the Iraqi government fails to prevent further attacks on Israel from its territory, the IDF may carry out airstrikes in Iraq similar to those conducted in Syria.

On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sent a letter to the UN Security Council asking it to pressure the Iraqi government to put an end to attacks on Israel by “pro-Iranian militias.” 

This evening I sent a letter to the President of the UN Security Council in which I called for immediate action regarding the activity of the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, whose territory is being used to attack Israel.

I emphasized that the Iraqi government is responsible for… pic.twitter.com/3Bq7nJENkS

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) November 18, 2024

“This evening I sent a letter to the President of the UN Security Council in which I called for immediate action regarding the activity of the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, whose territory is being used to attack Israel.” 

The Iraqi government accused Sa’ar of justifying “a planned attack on Iraq.” 

“These allegations are merely excuses intended to justify planned aggression against Iraq,” Iraq said in its statement.