Three Syrian soldiers, seven pro-Iranian militia fighters and a civilian were killed on Monday, August 31, in Syria, in Israeli raids, according to a new report released on Tuesday, September 1 by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( OSDH).

The raids targeted Syrian army positions southwest of Damascus and others belonging to pro-Iranian groups, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, in the southern province of Daraa.

Contacted by AFP, Rami Abdel Rahmane, director of OSDH, did not specify whether Hezbollah fighters were among the victims.

A first assessment of this NGO based in the United Kingdom, on the night of Monday to Tuesday, reported five deaths.

Second incident in August

The official Syrian agency Sana, quoting a military source, announced in the night that "the Israeli enemy had targeted the southern region with missiles and the air defense responded".

Stating that the shots came from the Golan Heights occupied by the Hebrew state, the agency said two soldiers were killed, as well as a civilian, a woman, and seven soldiers wounded.

Since the conflict in Syria began in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of raids against regime forces but also against its allies, Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Israel, which rarely confirms its operations in Syria, insists that it will not let Syria become a bridgehead for Tehran.

This is the second such incident in August.

In early August, Israel claimed responsibility for strikes on the southern province of Qouneitra, in retaliation for "attempts" to place homemade bombs along its disputed border with Syria.

On July 20, five pro-Iran fighters, including a member of Hezbollah, were killed in Israeli strikes south of Damascus, according to OSDH.

On Sunday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned his movement would shoot down one Israeli soldier for every member of his formation killed by Israel, making it clear that he had not yet avenged the victim of the July 20 raid.

With AFP

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