A declared Israeli aerial aggression killed between seven and fifteen civilians, including four children and three women, and injured a minimum of 11 others and up to 15 civilians on the evening of 8 October 2024, at approximately 8:15 p.m. local time, in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus, Syria. The aggression struck a residential building in the Sheikh Saad area, known locally as the “14 Buildings,” located near the Iranian Embassy.

Initial reports provided by a military source to SANA news reported seven citizens killed, including children and women, and 11 injured. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) later reported the death of at least eight civilians, including four children and three women. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) noted that the death toll from the Israeli raid rose to nine. Local sources identified the names of eight civilians and two or three militants who were killed in the attack. Symonitor reported the highest death and injury toll of 15 civilians, respectively, referring to Syria TV.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli military. According to an article by the New York Times, the Israeli military admitted carrying out airstrikes on a residential building near the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, in an attempt to assassinate a ranking Hezbollah official involved in weapons smuggling, according to two Israeli officials who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.

As later reported by  Symonitor, the official who was targeted by the strike was Hajj Ziad (possibly Ziad al-Nakhalah), a liaison officer affiliated with the Lebanese “Hezbollah”, who undertook military tasks outside of Lebanon. Sources reported that “Hajj Ziad” was living on the second floor of the building that was destroyed by the airstrikes, which led to his death. Al Arabiya channel on Facebook also reported that “the assassination operation in the Mezzeh neighborhood of Damascus was successful”, referring to Israeli Channel 12.

The strike resulted in significant loss of life, particularly affecting family units and medical professionals. Among those killed were Dr. Shawqi al-Aoudi, his wife, Iqbal Ahmad al-Aoudi, and their three daughters: Bayan al-Aoudi, Leen al-Aoudi, and Layan al-Aoudi. Dr. Al-Aoudi was a professor of pharmaceutical sciences teaching at the Syrian Private University and was described as a distinguished Yemeni academic and scientific cadre from Ibb Governorate, Yemen. Relatives and colleagues noted that Dr. al-Aoudi was the “most important researcher in pharmaceutical sciences”. He was reportedly residing on the second floor of the affected building, an area which was struck precisely along with the adjacent third and fourth floors. One source described the location of his death as a tragic circumstance, observing that Dr. al-Aoudi and his family had only recently relocated from a higher floor. The widespread grief was evident as Syrians and Yemenis mourned the professor, a distinguished academic, and his entire family.

Multiple sources on social media shared a formal headshot of the late Shawqi al-Aoudi wearing a blue suit and a white shirt, and the images of his three daughters, all of whom were apparently under the age of five.

Also killed were Mrs. Rana Twma and her son, Qusi Khashman. Activists reported that Mrs. Twama passed away the day after the strike in Al-Mouwasat Hospital after having remained there for hours. Facebook user Doelaa shared the image of the late Rana, standing outdoors along with her son. She was a young woman wearing a denim dress and a white headscarf, smiling gently at the camera. Her son was a teenager wearing a blue T-shirt with the Versace inscription.

Additionally, Dr. Rahaf Abd al-Rahim Qamhiyya, a young resident physician specialising in kidney diseases at the Damascus Health Directorate, was also killed. She was described as a “respected, honorable and beloved doctor,” originally from Homs. Facebook account Homs posted her image. She is seen as a young woman in a medical uniform and a beige headscarf.

The strike was launched with three missiles from a fixed-wing aircraft, believed to be Israeli, coming from the direction of the occupied Syrian Jawlan, according to SANA. The strike caused huge material damage to properties, destroying three floors in the targeted residential building, which appeared to be due to missiles “directed precisely at the three apartments”. Following the strike, SANA reported that rescue efforts were underway to extract people from under the debris. One witness account recalled that “children were playing in front of the building,” just before the attack.

In a video shared by Reuters, a neighbour was giving a testimony in front of a partially destroyed building, saying, “We were sitting peacefully at home when we heard the sound of the explosion. It was very strong. We did not know its source at first. Then we heard two other explosions. There were three explosions. My kids were terrified. I calmed them and went out to watch from the balcony. I looked from the balcony and all I could see was dust.”

Images shared on social media by Facebook user Ali Shandi showed multiple cars in front of the building that were damaged and covered by dust, while images shared by Al Wared showed stains of blood on the pavement and the damaged windows and balconies in the building.

The SNHR condemned the attack as a massacre against civilians and explicitly stressed that the Israeli forces carried out the strike without warning the civilian population. SNHR also stated that there was no evidence of fighters or military equipment in the targeted area.

Given the fact that the strike was confirmed by the Israeli military officials, Airwars has graded the strike status of the incident as “declared.”