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Hassan Nasrallah's Son-In-Law Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Damascus

People stand near the targeted building in the Mezzeh neighborhood in Damascus (EPA)
People stand near the targeted building in the Mezzeh neighborhood in Damascus (EPA)
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Hassan Nasrallah's Son-In-Law Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Damascus

People stand near the targeted building in the Mezzeh neighborhood in Damascus (EPA)
People stand near the targeted building in the Mezzeh neighborhood in Damascus (EPA)

Slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's son-in-law, Hassan Jafar Qassir, was killed in an Israeli raid which targeted an apartment in a residential building in the Mezzeh district of Damascus, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Hassan is the brother of Muhammad Jafar Qassir, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut two days ago. According to the Observatory, Muhammad was responsible for the transfer of Hezbollah weapons from Syria to Lebanon.

On Wednesday, media reports said Hassan Jafar Qassir was killed in an Israeli strike that hit the first floor of a three-story building frequented by Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders in the Mezzeh district.

Three people were killed in the strike, including two non-Syrians. At least four unidentified people were injured.

The Mezzeh district is home to Syrian security and military headquarters, as well as embassies and UN agencies.

The targeted building is located about half a kilometer from the site of a raid that targeted last Tuesday two mini-buses, killing three civilians including a media worker, as well as three pro-Iran fighters, including a Hezbollah member, AFP reported.

Since Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes in the country, targeting army positions and Iran-allied fighters, including Hezbollah.

The strikes have increased in recent days, including on areas near the border with Lebanon.

Tens of thousands of people have crossed into Syria over the past week, fleeing heavy Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon.

Israeli authorities rarely comment on individual strikes in Syria, but have repeatedly said they will not allow arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence there.

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Iraq Initiates Contacts with Western Countries to Prevent Potential Israeli Strike

Sudani chairs a military meeting in Baghdad. (Government media)
Sudani chairs a military meeting in Baghdad. (Government media)
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Iraq Initiates Contacts with Western Countries to Prevent Potential Israeli Strike

Sudani chairs a military meeting in Baghdad. (Government media)
Sudani chairs a military meeting in Baghdad. (Government media)

The Iraqi government is making significant efforts to shield the country from the effects of the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. Sources revealed that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has activated three internal and external strategies to prevent a potential Israeli strike on Iraq.
Concerns have grown since Iran launched hundreds of missiles at Israel on Tuesday night, some of which crossed through Iraqi airspace. Pro-Iran factions have also intensified their attacks on Israeli and US targets.
A senior official from Sudani’s office told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Iraqi government is "moving swiftly on three simultaneous fronts to avoid the repercussions of the war and keep the country away from its dangerous consequences."
These efforts involve diplomatic engagements with Iraq’s Western allies, especially the US and the UK, to convince them that Iraq is neutral in the conflict. The aim is to encourage them to pressure Israel to refrain from attacking Iraq. Additionally, Al-Sudani has assigned three influential figures, including a political-religious leader, to hold urgent talks with certain factions, urging them to remain neutral due to the increasing risks.
While the government is working with political leaders and some faction heads, analysts remain skeptical about its ability to influence more radical groups to stop their escalations against Israel. However, they note that these factions often target Israeli interests from outside Iraq.
Many fear that these groups may also resume attacks on US bases in the country, particularly following a recent attack on Victoria Base near Baghdad Airport, where US forces are believed to be stationed.
Iraq’s Islamic Resistance announced on Wednesday that it had struck "vital areas" in Israel, signaling that the factions remain committed to escalating the conflict.
On the eve of Iran's missile strike on Israel, Sudani visited the Joint Operations Command headquarters in Baghdad, where he met with senior security officials to review the country's security situation and the military’s readiness to address any potential threats. He instructed security forces to enhance their preparedness and capabilities.
However, security experts doubt Iraq’s ability to defend against a possible Israeli airstrike, given the country's weak ground-based defense systems.
In response to Iran's attack, Iraq's Resistance Coordinating Committee threatened to target US bases and interests if the US or Israel conducts any hostile actions, stating that all American bases in Iraq and the region would be considered targets.