STORY: Syrians recall horrors of Israeli airstrikes on central province
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 9, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 11, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:45
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. aftermath of the targeted site
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMAD AL-HOMSI, Resident of Masyaf
3. various of the damages
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): KARAM KAHWAJI, Resident of Masyaf
5. various of the workers repairing the damages
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): HASSAN AL-GHABBASH, Syrian Minister of Health
7. various of the site

STORYLINE:

Mohammad Al-Homsi, a 50-year-old resident of Syria's Masyaf, recalled before the camera what happened when Israel launched overnight airstrikes on sites near the city.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMAD AL-HOMSI, Resident of Masyaf
"Around 11:00 p.m., we heard the sound of a nearby explosion, and drones were bombing. There were explosions one after another, with about 5 to 10 minutes between each explosion. As a result of this incident, people woke up in panic. Elderly men, women, and children were all crying out in fear. Most of the targeted areas were civilian, and panic spread among all the residents. We've experienced previous strikes, but not with this intensity. This time, the situation is different."

Israel attacked military sites in the central Syrian province of Hama late Sunday, killing 18 people, including four civilians, and injuring 37 others, six of whom remained in critical condition, according to the latest figures released by Syria's Foreign Ministry.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported that the strikes are among the most intense in months. Local officials reported that the airstrikes caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, disrupting telecommunications, electricity, and water systems.

During a visit to the scene of the attack, Xinhua reporters saw local residents busy repairing the damage, while government employees worked to restore water, telecommunications, and electricity services. Charred forestland and damaged vehicles were visible, with some residents still assessing the damage.

Sixteen-year-old Karam Kahwaji recounted the terror of hearing the bombing while outside.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): KARAM KAHWAJI, Resident of Masyaf 
"I was on the ground and went outside when I heard the sounds of explosions and shelling. The sound of the aircraft was terrifying, and when our relatives were outside, and they got on their motorbikes and turned on the lights, they were bombed. The sound was incredibly frightening."

Syrian Health Minister Hassan Al-Ghabbash told Xinhua that all health workers in the provinces of Hama, Tartous, and Homs had been mobilized after the attack.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): HASSAN AL-GHABBASH, Syrian Minister of Health
"From the very first moments of this brutal assault, all the working staff in the health sector in Hama, Tartous, and Homs provinces were mobilized because this aggression came in successive waves. This savage attack, this barbaric assault, has so far resulted in 18 deaths and 37 wounded. The injuries vary from mild to moderate, with some critical cases."

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the airstrikes, calling them a continuation of Israeli "aggression" aimed at escalating tensions in the region.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that the attack was part of Israel's ongoing strikes in Syria, with 64 attacks reported so far in 2024. 

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)