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Israeli Airstrikes on Damascus Kill 15, Including Women and Children, Syrian Media Reports
In one of the deadliest incidents in recent months, Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian capital, Damascus, left at least 15 people dead and injured 16 others, Syrian state media reported on Thursday. The strikes targeted residential areas in the upscale Mezzah neighborhood and the nearby Qudsaya region, according to Syria’s state-run news agency SANA, citing a military source.
Among the casualties were women and children, according to SANA, with significant damage reported to buildings and surrounding properties. This escalation marks one of the heaviest strikes in recent months on the densely populated urban areas of Damascus.
The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, stating they targeted Islamic Jihad positions within Syria. “The Israeli military has struck Islamic Jihad targets in Syria, inflicting substantial damage on the organization’s command centers and operatives,” read a statement released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
According to SANA, the strikes were launched from the occupied Golan Heights, with missiles reportedly hitting several civilian structures. “The Israeli enemy launched an aerial attack from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting multiple residential buildings in the Mezzah neighborhood of Damascus and the Qudsaya area in the Damascus countryside,” a Syrian military official told SANA. The airstrikes, which took place in the early hours, led to “the martyrdom of fifteen people and the injury of sixteen others, including women and children,” the official added.
The attack underscores ongoing regional tensions and the persistent Israeli targeting of what it identifies as Iranian-aligned groups operating in Syria, including Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. Israel has stated its aim is to prevent Iranian-backed militias from consolidating power and establishing military footholds close to Israel’s borders. Thursday’s airstrikes represent the latest episode in a long series of such strikes that have intensified since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
The Syrian government has condemned the strikes, viewing them as violations of its sovereignty and an act of aggression. Syrian officials have also voiced concerns over civilian casualties and the safety of densely populated areas around Damascus, urging international intervention to curb the escalating violence.
There has been no immediate response from international bodies, though previous escalations between Israel and Syria have often drawn calls for restraint from global powers. Human rights organizations have expressed concern about the impact of such military operations on civilians, particularly in conflict zones where infrastructure is already fragile.
As tensions continue, regional observers caution that the violence could further destabilize Syria, which remains in a prolonged state of conflict. The latest strikes raise questions about the safety of civilians in contested areas and the role of international mediation in de-escalating ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iranian-aligned forces operating in Syria.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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