This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68691102#0

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Syria says Israeli strikes kill nearly 40 near Aleppo Syria accuses Israel after strikes kill more than 40 near Aleppo
(about 2 hours later)
Members of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah (file image) Hezbollah fighters are reported to be among the dead (file image)
At least 36 people have been killed in air strikes near the Syrian city of Aleppo, reports say. At least 42 people have been killed in air strikes in north-west Syria, reports say.
Syria's state news agency cited a military source as saying Israeli strikes hit several sites at 01:45 on Friday (22:45 GMT Thursday). Syria's defence ministry said Israeli planes targeted several sites in the Aleppo countryside at 01:45 on Friday (22:45 GMT Thursday).
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says the targets were weapons stores used by Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. A UK-based monitoring group said a weapons store of the Hezbollah militant group was hit. It described those killed as "regime soldiers".
Israel's military told the BBC it would not comment on foreign media reports.Israel's military told the BBC it would not comment on foreign media reports.
Citing two security sources, Reuters news agency reports that five Hezbollah fighters are among the dead and gives a death toll of 38. The monitoring group - the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) - said it was the highest number of dead among Syrian forces in a single such "Israeli attack".
The defence ministry says civilians and Syrian military personnel were also killed. Citing two security sources, Reuters news agency said five Hezbollah fighters were among the dead, putting the death toll at 38.
The SOHR, a monitoring group with an extensive network of contacts in Syria, says "dozens" of others were injured. Syria's defence ministry said civilians and Syrian military personnel had been killed. It said the air strikes were carried out "in conjunction with" with drone attacks by "terrorist organisations" against Aleppo city and the surrounding area, though it did not give any further information.
The sites targeted are near Aleppo International Airport, it adds. The SOHR, which uses an extensive network of contacts in Syria, said the alleged Israeli strikes also caused multiple injuries, some serious.
Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Syria, mostly targeting groups allied with Iran, a significant backer of Palestinian militant group Hamas. It said the strikes hit the weapons warehouse in Jabrin area near Aleppo international airport and targeted Syrian air defence forces facilities in Al-Saferah, about 20km (12.5 miles), south-east of Aleppo city. It also said explosions were heard in the Kafr Joum area of western Aleppo.
The strikes have increased since Hamas carried out the 7 October attacks and Israel began its retaliatory campaign to destroy the group in Gaza. In recent years, Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Syria against Hezbollah or Iranian assets there. It has vowed to prevent Iran - Hezbollah's most important backer - from transferring advanced weaponry to the Lebanese group or from building up its own military presence in Syria.
Hezbollah has also launched repeated rocket barrages against Israel from southern Lebanon. Both Iran and Hezbollah - Syrian allies - oppose Israel's existence. Alleged Israeli strikes on Syria have increased since Hamas, which is also supported by Iran and Hezbollah, carried out the 7 October attacks on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.
The Syrian defence ministry said the new air strikes had coincided with drone attacks in Aleppo carried out by "terrorist organisations", though it did not specify whether there had been any further casualties. Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel have also escalated. On Tuesday, Israel carried out its deepest strikes yet inside Lebanon against Hezbollah after the group fired rockets at a military site in northern Israel.
Additional reporting by Christy Cooney
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Israel-Gaza warIsrael-Gaza war
IsraelIsrael
HezbollahHezbollah
LebanonLebanon
SyriaSyria