play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
  • cover play_arrow

Israel Strikes Near Damascus, Syrian State Media Claims

Background

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Explosions occurred near Damascus at a prominent Shiite sanctuary guarded by Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah, with Syrian state media attributing the strikes to Israel.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported at least three strikes in the Sayyeda Zeinab area located 6 miles south of Damascus, targeting a house “used by members of Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard” located on a farm.

“At approximately 5:18 pm (14:15 GMT), the Israeli enemy launched an air aggression from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, targeting a number of civilian sites south of Damascus, which led to some material losses,” the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) news agency reported, offering no further details. Syrian radio added that three sites were targeted in the attack.

Israeli authorities rarely comment on the strikes within Syria, but have consistently stated they will not permit arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence in Syria.

Sayyeda Zeinab holds significance due to a shrine believed by Twelver Shī‘a Muslims to be the true burial site of Zaynab, a granddaughter of Muhammad, the founder of Islam.

Sayyidah Zaynab is a major pilgrimage site for Shī‘a Muslims and a significant center of Shī‘i learning. During the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s and the 1990s, pilgrimage to Sayyidah Zaynab increased as access to Iraqi Shī‘a shrines was limited. By 2011, around 1 million visitors traveled annually to the town, many seeking healing at the shrine.

Twelver Shīʿism, the largest branch of Shīʿa Islam, makes up about 85% of Shīʿas. “Twelver” signifies belief in twelve divinely appointed leaders, the Twelve Imams, with the last, Imam al-Mahdi, expected to return as the Mahdi. Twelvers see the Imams as Muhammad’s spiritual and political successors, guiding with justice and interpreting Islamic law and the Qur’an’s inner meanings. They are viewed as infallible (Ismah) and divinely chosen (nass). Iran is the only country where Twelver Shi’ism is the state religion.

The Twelvers’ believe that the Mahdi is expected to appear in times of extreme chaos, returning alongside Jesus as a messiah to bring peace and establish Islam globally.

Twelver beliefs, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and threats toward Israel and the West have raised concerns. Critics suggest that Iran’s Supreme Leader might incite conflict to hasten the 12th Imam’s arrival. Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad has even called for the Imam’s return at the UN, asserting that the Islamic Revolution’s primary goal is to prepare for his reappearance.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.


Latest News from Worthy News

CENTCOM: U.S. Forces Help Move 1 Billion Barrels of Oil Through Strait of Hormuz
CENTCOM: U.S. Forces Help Move 1 Billion Barrels of Oil Through Strait of Hormuz
Sunday, September 20, 2026

U.S. forces have supported the movement of more than 1 billion barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz during the past two months, according to U.S. Central Command.

Myanmar Military Kills Baptist Pastor Amid Growing Christian Persecution
Myanmar Military Kills Baptist Pastor Amid Growing Christian Persecution
Sunday, September 20, 2026

Christians in Myanmar were mourning Sunday after the ruling military shot and killed a Baptist pastor in predominantly Christian Chin State, the latest church leader to die amid the country’s civil conflict, Christian investigators said.

Ukraine Unleashes Massive Drone Attack On Moscow As Russia Votes
Ukraine Unleashes Massive Drone Attack On Moscow As Russia Votes
Sunday, September 20, 2026

Much of Moscow was apparently burning Sunday as Ukraine launched one of its largest drone strikes on the Russian capital, killing several people and injuring dozens while disrupting the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections.

Russians Vote In First Election Since Invasion (Worthy News Radio)
Russians Vote In First Election Since Invasion (Worthy News Radio)
Sunday, September 20, 2026

Russians were voting in a three-day parliamentary election, the first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago, amid continuing fighting and reported attacks on Russia’s electoral infrastructure.

Trump Returns Early to White House as Middle East Security Concerns Rise
Trump Returns Early to White House as Middle East Security Concerns Rise
Sunday, September 20, 2026

President Donald Trump returned to the White House Saturday evening after unexpectedly cutting short his stay at Camp David, as mounting tensions prompted new security warnings for Americans across the Middle East.

Netanyahu Cuts U.S. Visit Short as Israel Heightens Military Readiness
Netanyahu Cuts U.S. Visit Short as Israel Heightens Military Readiness
Sunday, September 20, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply shortened his upcoming visit to the United States, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already tense week.

Thousands Brave Rain For Pro-Israel Rally In Amsterdam; 13 Protesters Arrested
Thousands Brave Rain For Pro-Israel Rally In Amsterdam; 13 Protesters Arrested
Saturday, September 19, 2026

Thousands of people, many of them Christians, braved the rain at Amsterdam’s central Dam Square for a pro-Israel rally, while police arrested more than a dozen pro-Palestinian protesters who attempted to disrupt the gathering.

WHO WE ARE

The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.

CONTACT