Israel launched airstrikes on April 2, 2025, targeting military bases and infrastructure in the Syrian cities of Damascus, Hama and Homs, according to the Israeli military.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had previously conducted airstrikes against Syria, targeting military installations with alleged connections to Iran and weapons shipments from Tehran to the Lebanese Hezbollah, during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad.
After Assad’s ousting, the supply chain was disrupted, but Israel continued to target Syrian military bases.
The latest attacks focused on the military airfield in Hama and the surrounding area of the scientific research center in the Barseh neighborhood of Damascus, as reported by Syrian state media and local officials.
Israel had previously bombed the scientific research center on December 8, 2024, claiming it was involved in the development of guided missiles and chemical weapons.
The IDF also stated that it had targeted the T4 airbase in the Homs province, which was repeatedly hit by Israeli forces in the previous week.
Following the airstrikes on Hama, reports of casualties emerged, with security sources telling Reuters that there were numerous victims, including civilians. However, the official death toll was not mentioned in the state-run Syrian media.
“A complete destruction of the Hama airbase was ensured to prevent its use” said a Syrian military source to Reuters, adding that the airstrikes destroyed the start and landing strips, the tower, the weapon depots and the hangars, with around a dozen attacks being carried out.