AMMAN: Syria claimed on Sunday that its air defences had successfully intercepted an alleged Israeli missile strike targeting central areas of the country.
According to state media, the majority of the missiles were downed, resulting in only material damage. Reuters has not been able to independently verify the report at this time.
The Syrian army released a statement stating that the missiles, which passed over parts of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, struck locations near the city of Homs. They emphasized that no casualties were reported, and the incident caused only material damage.
Israeli Warplanes Target Syrian Air Defence Battery
In response, an Israeli military spokesman stated that Israeli warplanes had targeted a Syrian air defence battery, which had launched an anti-aircraft missile towards Israel. The spokesman, Avichay Adraee, added that Israeli warplanes also conducted strikes on other targets in the area. There have been no immediate reports of casualties resulting from the Syrian missile that exploded in mid-air. The connection between these two incidents has not yet been confirmed by Reuters.
Israel has recently increased its airstrikes on Syrian airports and air bases, aiming to disrupt Iran’s expanding use of aerial supply lines to transport arms to its allies in Syria and Lebanon, including Hezbollah. Israeli military experts view these strikes as part of an ongoing escalation to counter Iran’s growing presence and influence in Syria. Since the civil war began in 2011, Tehran has provided support to President Bashar al-Assad, resulting in an increase in its influence throughout the country.
Currently, fighters aligned with Iran, including Hezbollah, hold significant control in areas across eastern, southern, and northwestern Syria, as well as in various suburbs surrounding the capital.
