Israeli Airstrikes Said To Hit Targets Near Damascus

Israeli airstrike near Damascus blocked by Syrian air defenses - report

JERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS

Syrian air defenses intercepted an alleged Israeli missile barrage targeting the vicinity of the capital Damascus, state media said early on Monday citing a military source.

The source was quoted as saying that the interception resulted in some material damage.

The missiles were launched from the direction of Riyaq, a Lebanese town east of Beirut, according to the Syrian SANA news agency.

Israeli officials were not immediately available for comment.

Last month, an alleged Israeli airstrike targeted Latakia's commercial port in northwestern Syria, in what was the third alleged airstrike in December.

Israel's alleged airstrikes came hours after a Houthi ballistic missile targeting Abu Dhabi was intercepted by the United Arab Emirates' air defenses.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is currently in the UAE conducting an official visit. The president was updated about the incident and he and his entourage are safe, as the visit is expected to continue as planned.

Israeli airstrikes said to to hit targets near Damascus

TOI STAFF

Israeli jets carried out airstrikes against targets near the Syrian capital of Damascus early Monday morning, Syrian state TV reported.

The alleged strikes are the first since Russia announced last week it was carrying out joint military jet patrols of the airspace along Syria’s borders, including in the Golan Heights area.

The TV report said Syria had activated its air defenses and intercepted several of the incoming missiles, but noted that the strikes had caused some “material damage.” There were no immediate reports of casualties

Syria routinely claims to shoot down Israeli missiles. Syrian war analysts generally believe that such claims — heard after nearly every Israeli airstrike — are false, empty boasts.

Reports said the missiles were fired from the direction of neighboring Lebanon. The targets of the strikes were not immediately clear.