Illustrative image. Source: the Israeli Air Force.
On December 16, several Syrian news sources reported a strike on a truck near the town of al-Bukamal in the southern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
Al-Bukamal, which is located right on Syria’s border with Iraq, is a stronghold of Iranian-backed armed factions. Syrian and Iraqi factions supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps maintain positions around the town and the nearby al-Qa’im crossing to fend off ISIS cells and secure the border line.
Some sources said that the truck was targeted by the United States-led coalitions, while others claimed that the strike was carried out by Israel.
The Syrian Arab News Agency didn’t report the alleged strike on al-Bukamal, which came just a day after reports of explosions at the town of al-Mayadin some 75 kilometers to the north. The mysterious explosions also went unreported by the state-run news agency.
Earlier this week, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, indirectly claimed responsibility for the November 8 strikes that hit a convoy of 25 trucks at the Syrian part of al-Qa’im border crossing. The target was allegedly a single truck that was carrying Iranian weapons.
Israel has already carried out 32 confirmed attacks on Syria this year as a part of its “war between wars” campaign that is meant to hinder Iran’s military activities in the war-torn country, especially the smuggling to advanced weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The attacks killed 33 people, including military personnel and civilians, and wounded at least 33 others. Yet, Iranian-backed factions are still as active in Syria as last year.
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