By Hamdi Alkhshali, CNN
(CNN) — Israeli airstrikes in central Syria late Sunday have killed more than a dozen people and injured more than 30 others, state-run Syrian news agency SANA reported Monday.
SANA said there had been several explosions and “air defense engagements” in the central region of Syria, including in the Tartous and Hama governorates, that resulted in multiple civilian casualties.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it did not comment “on reports in the foreign media,” when asked by CNN about the reports.
The director of health in Hama, Dr. Maher Al-Younes, told SANA that the strikes on the Masyaf countryside had killed at least 16 people and injured 36 others, with six of those in critical condition.
The source said Syrian air defenses had intercepted and shot down some of the missiles.
SANA said the strikes had damaged the Wadi al-Uyun highway in Masyaf and caused a blaze that firefighters were working to control.
Israel has launched airstrikes in Syria intermittently since Hamas’ October 7 attacks last year – and Israel’s ensuing war against the militant group in Gaza – dramatically escalated tensions in the region, and sparked daily exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah across the Israeli-Lebanese border.
In June, an Israeli airstrike near Aleppo killed an Iranian military adviser, Iranian media reported at the time.
And in April, Israel’s bombing of Iran’s embassy complex in Syria sparked a major confrontation between Iran and Israeli, bringing the Middle East to the brink of all-out war.
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