At least three Syrian, pro-Iranian fighters were killed in addition to five others in the Israeli strike near Damascus overnight on Friday; Structural damage occurred when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted an Iranian drone manufacturing plant and an airbase.

The IDF conducted a strike in the region of Damascus overnight on Friday, marking the 17th attack inside of Syria this year. According to Syrian state media, the strike resulted in the deaths of at least three Syrian, pro-Iranian fighters and five others – some of which were not Syrian. The attack followed a visitation from multiple officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to reports, at least seven additional soldiers were wounded in the attack. Israeli strikes inside the war-torn country have been routine for years as Tehran continues to entrench itself north of Israel’s border.

Two primary targets during the attack were an airbase utilized by pro-Iranian militias and an Iranian drone manufacturing warehouse. Significant structural damage did occur.

As is custom, the IDF did not comment on the attack.

HD Editor’s Note: Why Is This News Biblically Relevant?

Israel has carried out numerous strikes in the region of Damascus and elsewhere, working to prevent the transfer of weapons and an Iranian foothold in the Syrian country, which borders the Jewish State to the north.

The urgency to prevent an Iranian presence in the region has only been heightened as the Islamic Republic, which is brazenly vocal in its desire to obliterate Israel, inches closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Although many may simply view Israeli strikes in Syria as a regular occurrence in the region, Christians take particular notice when discussing military actions in the country’s capital. That is because Damascus, which is the longest continually inhabited city in the world, has its future end detailed in Scripture. 

Jack Hibbs, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, during the last Israel strike near Damascus on May 21st, explained the city’s Biblical significance. 

“For those of us who know our Bibles, it’s always an attention-getter whenever we hear about Damascus being involved in any form of warfare,” Hibbs described. “The book of Isaiah chapter 17 tells us that there will be an utter and total devastation that comes to the city of Damascus.”

Isaiah 17:1 reads, “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.”

“With all that’s going on in the world right now, keep your eye on the news with your Bible open,” Pastor Hibbs underscored. “It may be that such an event will trigger either a regional or world war…”

According to Hibbs and many other Bible Prophecy students, Damascus’s future destruction may also be the catalyst for “the Ezekiel 38 battle” in-which Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others come together from the north, with weaponry supplied by Russia, to attack the Jewish State.