Israeli strike kills 42 Syrian soldiers, rights group says

May 6, 2013 at 7:54 a.m.

by The Associated Press

Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade during an exercise in the Golan Heights on Monday, May 6, 2013. Israel’s weekend airstrike on a military complex near the Syrian capital of Damascus killed dozens of Syrian soldiers, a group of anti-regime activists said Monday, citing information from military hospitals. The Syrian government has not released a death toll, but Syrian state media have reported casualties in Sunday’s pre-dawn airstrike, Israel’s third into Syria so far this year.
Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade during an exercise in the Golan Heights on Monday, May 6, 2013. Israel’s weekend airstrike on a military complex near the Syrian capital of Damascus killed dozens of Syrian soldiers, a group of anti-regime activists said Monday, citing information from military hospitals. The Syrian government has not released a death toll, but Syrian state media have reported casualties in Sunday’s pre-dawn airstrike, Israel’s third into Syria so far this year.

BEIRUT — A Syrian activist group says Israel's weekend airstrike on a sprawling military complex near the Syrian capital, Damascus, has killed at least 42 Syrian soldiers.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday that the toll is based on information from sources in Syrian military hospitals.

The Syrian government has not released a death toll. Immediately after Sunday's predawn strike, Syrian state media said the attack caused casualties but did not elaborate.

So far, Israel has carried out three airstrikes in Syria this year, according to Israeli and U.S. officials, though Israel's government has not formally confirmed involvement.

The officials say the attacks were meant to prevent advanced Iranian weapons from reaching Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, a Syria ally and Israel foe.


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