WHO Mourns Loss of Engineer in Syrian Airstrikes; 16 Pro-Iran Militants Also Perish
In a tragic turn of events, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the death of one of its team members, Emad Shehab, in airstrikes that rocked Syria's eastern Deir ez-Zor province. The strikes, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, claimed the lives of 16 pro-Iran militiamen as well.
Emad Shehab, serving as an engineer with WHO, was deeply involved in the crucial aspects of water, sanitation, and hygiene within the city. His building became a target of the airstrikes, leading to his untimely demise.
WHO Director-General Tedris Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed profound sorrow over Shehab's death, emphasizing the ongoing violence and suffering endured by the Syrian populace. Shehab's contributions will be sorely missed, echoing sentiments shared by colleagues and the international community.
My colleagues and I are heartbroken at the tragic loss of another one of our own in an airstrike in #Syria this morning, engineer Emad Shehab. We extend our deepest condolences to his family.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 26, 2024
Emad served as the @WHO water and sanitation focal point in Deir-ez-Zor. His untimely… pic.twitter.com/vG1A2IRsid
According to reports from the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the airstrikes primarily targeted military and security installations affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Deir ez-Zor province. Among the casualties, an IRGC adviser was reportedly killed, while an IRGC commander known as Hajj Askar sustained severe injuries.
While Syria's foreign ministry condemned the strikes, placing blame on Washington and Israel for allegedly orchestrating the attack to destabilize the region, Washington promptly denied involvement. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh categorically stated that the US did not carry out airstrikes in Syria on the specified night.
This incident sheds light on the complex dynamics prevailing in Syria's prolonged civil war. Israel has frequently conducted airstrikes on regime-controlled areas, often targeting pro-Iran militias like Lebanon's Hezbollah group. Similarly, the US has undertaken retaliatory strikes on IRGC positions following attacks by Iran-backed militia groups on American bases in Syria and neighboring Iraq.
Iran asserts that its IRGC officers serve in advisory capacities in Syria at the behest of the government to support President Bashar al-Assad during the protracted conflict. Notably, Iran-backed militia groups maintain a significant presence in Deir ez-Zor, particularly along the Syrian-Iraqi border.
As investigations into the airstrikes continue, the international community remains vigilant amid escalating tensions in the war-torn region, grappling with the ramifications of yet another devastating incident.
