MASYAF, Syria (AP) — The number of people killed in overnight Israeli strikes in Syria has risen to 18 with dozens more wounded, Syria's health minister said Monday — the largest death toll in such an attack since the beginning of the war in Gaza.
One of the sites targeted was a research center used in the development of weapons, a war monitor said. Syrian officials said civilian sites were targeted.
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A Syrian soldier smokes a cigaret, as he sits on the ground in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A poster shows Syrian President Bashar Assad installed at a broken window in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A Syrian nurse treats an man who was injured in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A Syrian nurse treats an man, who was injured, in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
Syrian workers stand on a crane next of a flipped bulldozer in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
An ambulance drives past a vehicle that burned in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
Israel regularly targets military sites in Syria linked to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Those strikes have become more frequent as Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israeli forces for the past 11 months against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hamas — a Hezbollah ally — in Gaza.
However, the intensity and death toll of Sunday night's strikes were unusual.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations. The strikes often target Syrian forces or Iranian-backed groups.
Israel has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment in Syria, particularly since Syria is a key route for Iran to send weapons to Hezbollah.
Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires, Syrian state news agency SANA said.
Speaking to reporters, Syrian Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash described the strikes as a “brutal and barbaric aggression.” He said the death toll had risen to 18 with nearly 40 wounded.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, said 25 were killed, including at least five civilians, while the others included Syrian army soldiers and members of Hezbollah and other Iran-linked armed groups.
One strike targeted a scientific research center in Masyaf, and other sites where “Iranian militias and experts are stationed to develop weapons in Syria,” the observatory said. It said the research center was reportedly used for developing weapons, including short- and medium-range precision missiles and drones.
Minister of Electricity Mohammad al-Zamel said the strikes had caused “truly significant” damage to water and electricity infrastructure.
“This brutal attack targeted civilian targets, and the martyrs were mostly civilians, as were the wounded,” he said.
Muhammad Sumaya, a firefighter with the Hama Fire Brigade, was wounded when shrapnel from one of the strikes hit his foot.
When the strikes began, he said while being treated in the Masyaf hospital Monday, “we moved from one place to another to deal with the fires and work to extinguish them.” While they were working, he said, “a missile landed right next to us.”
Azzam al-Omar, a SANA photographer, said he was hit by shrapnel in the chest when a missile landed while he was photographing the aftermath of a strike.
Local media also reported strikes around the coastal city of Tartous, which the observatory said were the result of air defense missiles falling.
On Monday afternoon, a charred car remained at the scene of one strike and smoke was still rising from some spots where fires had been put out.
Also on Monday, Saudi Arabia officially reopened its embassy in Damascus, marking a full restoration of relations between the two countries.
Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over the brutal crackdown by the government of Bashar Assas on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League.
As Assad consolidated his control over most of the country and the civil war turned into a largely frozen conflict, Arab states moved toward a rapproachement with Damascus.
Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012. Last year, soon after Syria was reinstated to the Arab League, the two countries announced they were restoring relations.
Sewell reported from Istanbul. Associated Press journalist Samar Kassaballi in Damascus contributed to this report.
A Syrian soldier smokes a cigaret, as he sits on the ground in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A poster shows Syrian President Bashar Assad installed at a broken window in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A Syrian nurse treats an man who was injured in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A Syrian nurse treats an man, who was injured, in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
Syrian workers stand on a crane next of a flipped bulldozer in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
An ambulance drives past a vehicle that burned in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Syrian state news agency SANA says that Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria Sunday night, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots are planning to give first-round draft pick Drake Maye his first pro start in the hopes of ending a four-game losing streak under veteran journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because the team hasn’t announced the switch. NFL Network first reported Maye’s promotion.
Maye made one previous appearance for New England, coming in at the end of a Week 3 loss to the New York Jets and going 4 for 8 with 22 yards.
Brissett was 79 for 135 with two touchdowns and one interception in five starts this season. He never threw for more than 150 net yards in a game.
The Patriots host the Houston Texans on Sunday.
The Patriots had no media availability on Tuesday and a team spokesman did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking confirmation of the switch.
The Patriots have struggled to find a useful quarterback since Tom Brady left in 2020 after leading the franchise to six Super Bowl championships. They have tried veterans like Cam Newton and draft picks like Mac Jones but have appeared in only one playoff game, a loss.
Three years after selecting Jones 15th overall in the 2021 draft and putting him immediately into the starting lineup, only to give up on him in his third season, the Patriots went back to the draft and picked Maye No. 3 overall.
But with the Patriots struggling in almost every area — including the offensive line — coach Jerod Mayo stuck with Brissett rather than put the rookie out of North Carolina into a hopeless and potentially dangerous situation. For four weeks, Mayo said he was sticking with Brissett.
But his tone shifted Monday when he said, “We have to look at every single unit and every single player and figure out how we use this roster to go out there and win games.”
AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Florida contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) brings down New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, center, sets to hand off the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)