Syria: Suspected Israeli airstrikes leave 23 Iranian-aligned fighters dead near Al Bukamal Jan. 13 /update 1

Event

Suspected Israeli airstrikes have left 23 Iranian-aligned fighters dead in Deir Ez-Zur Governorate, Syria, Jan. 13. Airstrikes targeted several military sites belonging to Iranian-backed militias near the town of Al Bukamal in the governorate on Jan. 13. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the incident; however, it has regularly targeted military sites belonging to Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed fighters throughout Syria.

Military forces in northern Israel and Syria will almost certainly maintain a heightened readiness level in the coming days. Further air and retaliatory strikes and exchanges of cross-border fire are possible.

Al Bukamal is around 240 km (149 miles) southeast of Ar-Raqqah.

Context

Tensions between Syria and Israel remain extremely high. Israel has repeatedly expressed concerns over the presence of Iranian proxies in southwest Syria and aims to prevent a build-up of Iranian-backed forces in the region. Since 2017, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has launched hundreds of preemptive strikes in Syria, targeting suspected Hizballah and Iranian-led fighters, weapons caches, and supply convoys, primarily in the southwestern governorates.