Israeli Airstrikes Kill Eight, ‘Mainly Iranians’

A military parade at the Russian Hmeimim base in Lattakia, western Syria. (Russia Today)
A military parade at the Russian Hmeimim base in Lattakia, western Syria. (Russia Today)
TT
20

Israeli Airstrikes Kill Eight, ‘Mainly Iranians’

A military parade at the Russian Hmeimim base in Lattakia, western Syria. (Russia Today)
A military parade at the Russian Hmeimim base in Lattakia, western Syria. (Russia Today)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has confirmed that five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iranian and Afghan nationalities were killed as a result of the Israeli airstrike on their headquarters near the administrative borders with Latakia.

Three IRGC-backed militiamen, one of whom was Syrian while the two others were of non-Syrian nationalities were killed by the Israeli strikes.

In Hama, the airstrikes hit weapons and ammunition warehouses in mountains and forests in the area of Deir Shmail in the western countryside of Hama near the administrative border with Latakia.

While in Latakia, several airstrikes hit military headquarters, weapons and ammunition warehouses in the south of al-Haffa.

The Israeli airstrikes left nearly 14 people injured and destroyed warehouses.

No official statement was made by the Israeli side regarding the strikes.

During the past years, Israel launched several airstrikes in Syria and targeted sites of Iran and Hezbollah. Israel rarely confirms launching airstrikes in Syria.

Airstrikes targeted the southern Syrian province of Quneitra on Wednesday night. No casualties were recorded.

The official SANA news agency reported the raids but not the casualties, saying four soldiers were wounded in the attack.



Israel Vows to Prevent an Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg, Activists from Reaching Gaza

Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
TT
20

Israel Vows to Prevent an Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg, Activists from Reaching Gaza

Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

Israel’s defense minister has vowed to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching the Gaza Strip.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that Israel wouldn't allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms.

Thunberg, a climate campaigner is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, The AP news reported.

The activists had said they planned to reach Gaza’s territorial waters as early as Sunday.

Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.

After a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade and the war end.

An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group’s vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.