The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums reports that some buildings in Damascus Citadel suffered significant damage as a result of an Israeli air attack on the Syrian capital in the early hours of Sunday.
 
"The Israeli attack on Damascus and its surroundings at dawn today caused great damage to the Technical Institute of Applied Arts in the Citadel of Damascus and the cultural center in [the neighborhood of Kafr Sousa," the statement read. 

مشاهد تصدي الدفاعات السورية للعدوان الإسرائيلي في سماء #دمشق. #سوريا pic.twitter.com/f8sCcqTCuH

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 18, 2023

The strike also damaged some administrative offices in the citadel, according to authorities, as well as the Institute of Applied Arts and the Institute of Archaeology, all of which are educational institutions.

The technical teams of the directorate are currently assessing the damage, the statement said. 

Syrian official television announced on Saturday evening that Syrian air defenses responded to Israeli aggression in the skies of Damascus. Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Damascus reported hearing explosions over the Syrian capital.

استهداف مبنى سكني في العدوان الاسرائيلي بكفرسوسة في #دمشق وإنباء عن ارتقاء عدد من الشهداء pic.twitter.com/Ktwa0mbv6Q

— ramia al ibrahim - راميا الابراهيم (@ramiaalibrahim) February 18, 2023

Our correspondent in Syria said the Israeli aggression targeted areas in the Damascus countryside, Kafr Sousa, and Tal Al-Masih near the city of Shahba, north of Al-Suwayda.

He indicated that several civilians were killed as a result of the Israeli aggression that targeted residential buildings in Kafr Sousa. A source in the Syrian Health Ministry told Al Mayadeen that five civilians were killed in the aggression, with others still in critical condition.