Israeli missile strikes near the Syrian capital, Damascus, have resulted in the deaths of three civilians and injuries to nine others, according to Syria's state news agency, SANA.

The attack, which occurred overnight, is the third of its kind in recent days, part of an ongoing escalation of Israeli aggression against Syria.

Syrian air defense systems were activated to intercept the barrage of Israeli missiles targeting western Damascus, particularly near the Mezzeh neighborhood. Although most of the missiles were successfully intercepted, several strikes caused fatalities and damage. Among the victims was journalist Safaa Ahmad, who was killed in the attacks. Footage from the scene showed a car engulfed in flames after being hit by a missile in Mezzeh, with firefighting teams working to control the resulting fires.

This comes on the heels of another Israeli attack on Sunday, in which Syrian air defenses intercepted a drone heading toward the western countryside of Homs. The drone incident was part of a series of strikes that have hit various Syrian regions in recent days. Local reports indicated that Israeli airstrikes targeted the Wadi Hanna area near a Syrian Army checkpoint in the Homs countryside, causing loud explosions heard across the city of Homs. Anti-aircraft missile fire was also reported in response.

The escalation of Israeli airstrikes has been accompanied by increased aggression along the Syrian-Lebanese border. Explosions and anti-aircraft fire were reported in areas such as al-Qusayr, Jousiyah, Qalamoun, and Kfeir Yabous, extending to the northern countryside of Quneitra near Mount Hermon, close to Lebanon's western Beqaa region. In a separate Israeli airstrike on Saturday, a man and his wife were killed when their home in Beit Saber, in the Damascus countryside, was hit.

The surge in Israeli attacks comes amid heightened tensions and growing instability in the region, with both Syria and Lebanon increasingly targeted as part of broader Israeli military operations. These operations coincide with Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, raising concerns about further escalation and regional fallout.

The Syrian Defense Ministry condemned the latest strikes, describing them as part of Israel's continued aggression against countries supporting Gaza amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis there. (ILKHA)