Four dead as Iranian missile hits building in Syria, killing four

Four people killed and multiple injured when an Iranian missile struck a residential building in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on Saturday, state media SANA reported. Additional debris landed in Quneitra and the Yarmouk Basin in Daraa province, according to eyewitnesses and videos shared by residents.

As warplanes roared through the skies above Syria, reports indicate that dozens of interceptor missiles were observed flying over Damascus. A Reuters correspondent witnessed this aerial display firsthand. The United States and Israel had previously announced a military operation against Iran, which intensified tensions in the region.

Reports suggest that Iran retaliated with a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, triggering air raid sirens across Israel under an unspecified “Operation Fateh Khyber.” Iranian military officials confirmed the deployment of numerous missiles and drones, which struck significant locations within Israeli territory. Notably, these attacks reportedly targeted several US bases in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and even the American Navy’s Fifth Fleet service center in Riyadh.

In response to the missile strikes, explosive sounds were heard throughout Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain, with the American Navy’s Fifth Fleet service center apparently suffering damage. The missile strikes in Bahrain led to urgent evacuations of US diplomatic personnel to shelters. In Qatar, Iranian missiles reportedly intercepted mid-flight, while Kuwait reported hearing explosions as well.

The escalating military confrontation pushed hopes for a diplomatic solution regarding Iran’s nuclear dispute with the West into further disarray. This new wave of attacks has once again underscored the precarious nature of peace negotiations and security in the region.