Kremlin: Russia concerned about Israeli strikes on Syria

Press secretary for the Russian president Dmitry Peskov has said that Russia is deeply concerned about the situation in the Middle East and condemns the strikes carried out by Israel on Damascus.

"We are in contact with our Syrian friends. We condemn such strikes against a sovereign country. The geography of military actions is expanding, leading to destabilisation and increased tension. This tension is detrimental to the region. We are greatly concerned," he noted, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Three civilians have been killed and nine others injured in Israeli airstrikes on Syria's capital, Damascus. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that its television anchor, Safaa Ahmad, lost her life on October 1 due to what was described as "treacherous Israeli aggression" aimed at the city.

Social media footage seemed to show a vehicle engulfed in flames on a street flanked by residential buildings. It remains unclear whether the presenter was one of the three civilian casualties mentioned by state media. Israel's Defence Ministry and military did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment. 

The reports of strikes on Damascus coincide with Israel's military launching "limited, localised, and targeted" ground operations in neighbouring Lebanon, marking a significant escalation against the armed group Hezbollah. Israeli attacks on September 30 resulted in at least 95 fatalities and 172 injuries across Lebanon, according to local authorities.

By Naila Huseynova