At Least 14 Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Chemical Weapons Research Center in Syria

Syria's state news agency reported that at least 14 people were killed due to Israeli airstrikes in the outskirts of Masyaf in Hama province. Simultaneously, Reuters reported that these strikes targeted a chemical weapons research center that Iranian specialists are said to be collaborating with, an accusation that Tehran denied on Monday. The missile attacks attributed to Israel occurred on the evening of Sunday, September 9, targeting areas in the outskirts of Masyaf, located in central Syria's Hama province. Initially, Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported that 'several military positions' were targeted in these strikes, and in a report published an hour later, it stated that 'five civilians' were killed. According to this report, 19 people were injured, with some in critical condition. However, shortly after, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, reported the deaths of 'three civilians' and four military personnel due to the attack. On the morning of Tuesday, September 10, SANA reported that the nighttime attacks left at least 14 dead. The state news agency also reported damage to the main Masyaf - Wadi al-Ayoun road and a fire in the Hira Abbas area as a result of these attacks. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated that the cause of the fire was the fall of several Syrian air defense missiles in surrounding villages and farms. This non-governmental organization also stated that at least four airstrikes were carried out in the Masyaf area within three hours. Israel typically does not comment on attacks attributed to it in Syria. Meanwhile, Reuters cited two regional intelligence sources reporting that on Sunday evening, 'a large military research center for producing chemical weapons' was targeted multiple times. According to Reuters, it is believed that a team of Iranian military specialists is involved in weapon production at this center and has been present there. Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, on Tuesday, September 10, referred to Israel's lack of boundaries in committing its crimes and stated regarding the connection of this research center to Iran: 'We do not confirm such a thing.' Videos of a large fire have been circulated on social media, reportedly following the missile strike on the Masyaf center. The state news agency also published photos of the large fire in forested areas and the presence of the injured in hospitals. The Masyaf area has been targeted multiple times in recent years by attacks attributed to Israel. Last year, an Israeli research institute reported that Iran was seeking to control parts of Syria's military industries, including in the Masyaf center. Since the onset of the Gaza war, attacks attributed to Israel against areas in Syria have increased, particularly targeting regions believed to host Iranian-affiliated militias or Syrian air defenses. For instance, last month, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that Ahmadreza Afshari, an officer of its aerospace force, was killed due to injuries from an airstrike in Syria. In one of the most notable attacks, on April 1 of this year, an airstrike attributed to Israel on the Iranian consulate in Damascus resulted in the deaths of several Iranian military personnel, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC. In retaliation for this attack, Iran conducted unprecedented drone and missile strikes on Israeli territory on the night of April 14. Israel typically does not comment on attacks attributed to it in Syria.