Israel kills Hezbollah, Russia liaison

The Israeli military announced that it had killed a Hezbollah liaison officer in the Syrian army in an airstrike on the capital Damascus (Syria) on December 3.

Syrian news agency SANA reported an Israeli airstrike on a car en route to Damascus international airport, saying one person was killed.

The scene of destruction after an airstrike in Idlib (Syria) on December 2, 2024

The vehicle was targeted by an Israeli drone, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. “One man inside was killed and another was injured,” the Observatory said, without providing details of his identity.

The Israeli military later confirmed that its air force had carried out an intelligence-based attack in Damascus targeting Salman Nemer Jumaa, Hezbollah's representative in Syria.

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According to The Times of Israel, citing a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as Hezbollah's liaison with the Syrian army, Jumaa "assisted in the transfer of weapons from Syria to Hezbollah." The IDF said Jumaa was also "in close contact" with senior Syrian government officials. The IDF stressed that Jumaa's killing was a blow to Hezbollah's presence in Syria and its ability to rearm.

In another development, Russia and the US on December 3 had a heated argument at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council about the sudden escalation of fighting in Syria.

United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria in New York (USA) on December 3, 2024

US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood called for a de-escalation of hostilities in Syria and the protection of civilians. Mr. Wood also expressed concern that the attack by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces.

Mr Wood accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces and Russia of causing civilian casualties in attacks on schools and hospitals.

In a speech aimed at the US, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said: "The US has not been able to muster the courage to condemn a clear terrorist attack on peaceful civilians in peaceful Syrian cities. There is no sign that Washington is willing to fight resolutely against international terrorism." "Frankly, we are glad that we are now on opposite sides of the front line with you," Nebenzia said.

US Deputy Ambassador Wood also responded harshly.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/israel-ha-lien-lac-vien-hezbollah-nga-my-dau-khau-nay-lua-tai-lien-hiep-quoc-185241204105630235.htm