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At least 36 individuals have lost their lives, and 50 others sustained injuries due to Israeli air strikes targeting residential buildings and an industrial region in Palmyra, central Syria, according to the country's state media. The attacks, which occurred around 13:30 local time (10:30 GMT), were allegedly carried out by Israeli jets approaching from the Jordanian border, causing considerable material destruction.

A UK-based monitoring entity, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), reported a higher death toll of 41. The group indicated that the strikes aimed at a weapons depot and several other sites associated with families of Iran-backed militias. Eyewitness reports and media shared online depict three major columns of black smoke emanating from the area post-strike.

The SOHR detailed that the Israeli fighter jets struck three significant locations in Palmyra. The attacks targeted two sites in the al-Jamiya neighborhood, one of which was a weapons depot near the industrial zone. This area is known to house families of Iran-supported fighters, including individuals of Iraqi and other foreign nationalities. The third target was a nearby location hosting a meeting of leaders from Iran-backed militias, including members of the Iraqi group Nujaba and Hezbollah.

Among the casualties reported by SOHR, 22 were foreign nationals and seven were Syrians. Additionally, seven civilians were among the injured. This violent episode follows a similar incident last Thursday when Israel confirmed air strikes in Damascus, resulting in 15 fatalities. These measures, as stated by the Israeli military, were aimed at the "terrorist infrastructure sites and command centres" of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.

These strikes add to the already dire humanitarian situation in the region, compounded by years of civil war and severe drought. In response to the escalating tension, new defensive structures, including trenches and berms, are being erected along the Golan Heights' frontier. The SOHR also reported that nine civilians were killed in these operations, alongside two Hezbollah members. Reports from US media suggested that the operation involved special forces deploying from helicopters.