Israeli Strikes on Syria: Cultural Center of Iraq's Al-Nujaba Movement Targeted, Three Wounded
Israeli strikes on Syria on Thursday targeted facilities of the Iraqi Al-Nujaba armed movement in Damascus, according to a war monitor and the pro-Iran group.
The Syrian government only confirmed an attack on an unidentified building.
Israel has carried out over 300 strikes in Syria since 2011, mostly against army positions and Iran-backed fighters.
The strikes increased after the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began on October 7.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israeli air strikes hit a cultural center and a training facility of Al-Nujaba in the Sayyida Zeinab area, wounding three members of the group.
An unnamed source from the Iraqi faction Al-Nujaba confirmed that one of their "cultural centers" was destroyed in an Israeli air attack in Syria, but reported no casualties.
Al-Nujaba does not have a declared military base in Syria, according to the source.
Syria's defense ministry stated that the attack occurred at around 3:20 am and caused "some material damage." Air defense systems were able to shoot down some of the missiles.
The area of Sayyida Zeinab, where the attack took place, is home to a significant Shiite Muslim shrine and is protected by pro-Iran groups, including Hezbollah and the Syrian army, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Al-Nujaba movement is a pro-Iran group in Iraq accused by Washington of attacking American forces.
Israel, which considers Iran its arch-enemy, has remained silent on most Syrian strikes but responded to an April 1 raid on Tehran's consulate in Damascus by targeting Iranian Revolutionary Guards, killing two generals.
In retaliation, Iran launched missiles and drones against Israel on April 13-14, marking the first direct attack on Israel from Iran.