Islamic Jihad confirms two senior leaders killed in Israeli strike

Two senior members of the Islamic Jihad terror group were killed Thursday in an Israeli airstrike near Damascus, Syria, the group confirmed.

Rasmi Abu Issa, head of Islamic Jihad’s foreign relations team, and Abdul Aziz al-Minawi, a member of its political bureau, were identified as the targets of the operation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated, “IAF fighter planes, guided by the Northern Command, attacked a number of military buildings and command centers belonging to Islamic Jihad in Syria. This strike constitutes a significant hit to the organization's command and its operatives.” The IDF further linked Islamic Jihad’s leadership to the October 7 massacre in Israel, carried out alongside Hamas, and to subsequent ongoing attacks.

In response, Syria’s Defense Ministry claimed the strikes hit residential areas in Al Mazzeh and Qudesia, suburbs of Damascus, resulting in 15 deaths and 16 injuries, including women and children.

The strike marks a continuation of heightened tensions and military actions following the October 7 attacks, as Israel intensifies operations against terror groups in the region.