Syria: Suspected Israeli strikes in Aleppo and Hama provinces April 29 /update 1

Event

Suspected Israeli missile strikes pounded Syrian government military bases in Aleppo and Hama provinces late on Sunday, April 29 (local time), killing at least 26 pro-government fighters. Most of those killed were reportedly Iranian fighters. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, one of the attacks hit the Brigade 47 arms depot (Hama province). For its part, Syrian state-owned media has made unconfirmed claims that the sources of the strikes targeting Aleppo and Hama provinces were American- and British-owned bases in northern Jordan.

Additional Israeli strikes on Syrian government and Iranian fighters and installations are possible in Aleppo and Hama provinces in the coming days.

Context

Notably, the Syrian government also recently blamed Israeli forces for an April 9 attack on Al-Tiyas airbase (Homs province), near Palmyra. Some 14 people, including Iranians, were killed in the airstrike, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syria remains enmeshed in a complex civil war that started between the Assad government and opposition forces in March 2011. Today, the conflict in Syria involves many parties, including the Syrian government, the Russian government, the Iranian government, the Turkish government, a US-led coalition, and numerous armed groups on the ground (including the Islamic State) with competing goals.

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise against all travel to Syria, with some banning travel to the country. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to any travel to Syria.