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Israeli strikes on Syrian civilians amount to crime against humanity: Top Hezbollah official

People inspect the damage at the Citadel of Damascus in the aftermath of Israeli air strikes against civilian-populated neighborhoods in Damascus, Syria, on February 19, 2023. (Photo by Reuters)

The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has censured the latest Israel's deadly air strikes on earthquake-stricken Syria, stating that the raids against civilian-populated neighborhoods in the capital Damascus amount to a crime against humanity.

“The Israeli aggression against Syria and its civilians is a crime against humanity; and deserves condemnation of the international injustice and the American and European bias in favor of the Zionist regime by covering up its crimes,” Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem wrote in a post published on his Twitter page.

The Israeli attack was launched from the occupied Golan Heights early on Sunday days after a 7.8-magnitude deadly earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, targeting several sites in Damascus, including the southwestern residential neighborhood of Kafar Sousah.

At least five people, including a soldier, were killed and 15 others wounded in the Israeli airstrikes. Many of the wounded are in critical condition, and many residential homes in Damascus and its countryside were damaged.

Syrian air defense units intercepted most missiles before reaching the targets.

Meanwhile, Syria has urged the United Nations to take necessary measures to deter Israel's attacks and hold it accountable for the latest deadly missile attack on Damascus.

“When Syria was trying to heal its wounds, bury its martyrs, and receive condolences, sympathy, and international humanitarian support in the face of the devastating earthquake, the Israelis launched an air aggression targeting civilian-populated neighborhoods,” the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Israel frequently carries out missile attacks on targets in Syria, mostly using the airspace of Lebanon or the occupied territories.

The regime frequently violates Syrian sovereignty by targeting military positions inside the country, especially those of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

Israel mostly keeps quiet about its attacks on the Syrian territories, which many view as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government’s increasing success in confronting terrorism.

The Tel Aviv regime has been a main supporter of terrorist groups that have battled the government of President Bashar al-Assad since foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria in early 2011.

Syria has repeatedly complained to the UN over Israeli assaults, urging the Security Council to take action against Tel Aviv’s crimes. The calls have, however, fallen on deaf ears.


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