Israeli air strikes late Monday in the area of the central Syrian city of Palmyra killed nine fighters loyal to the Iran-backed Damascus regime, a war monitor said Tuesday.
Those who died in several missile strikes included three Syrians and six foreigners of unknown nationalities, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Since the start of the civil war in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Syrian state media had said that Syrian air defences late Monday downed Israeli missiles over Palmyra in the central Homs province before they could reach their targets. Contacted by AFP, an Israeli army spokesperson declined to comment.
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Israel has repeatedly vowed to impede any Iranian encroachment in war-torn Syria across its border.
Monday’s attack came hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Last week, an Israeli drone targeted a Hezbollah car in Syria near the Lebanese border, a source from the group said.
Late last month, Syrian air defences intercepted an Israeli missile attack also targeting Homs province in the centre of the war torn country. The Observatory said the target was a military airport where Iranian forces were present.
Syrian air defences down Israeli missiles: state media
Syrian air defences downed Israeli missiles over the ancient city of Palmyra in Homs province on Monday, state media reported.
Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
#Israeli air strikes in #Syria city of #Palmyra killed nine fighters loyal to the Iran-backed Damascus regime, a war monitor said Tuesday.
Those who died included three Syrians and six foreigners of unknown nationalities https://t.co/5e8VJ7Gqhe
— Randa HABIB (@RandaHabib) April 21, 2020
“Air defences confronted an Israeli aggression over Palmyra and intercepted several hostile missiles,” SANA said. The missiles were downed before they could hit their targets, it added.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the targets were “military posts for Iranian militias in the Palmyra desert.”
The monitor did not report any casualties. Contacted by AFP, an Israeli army spokesperson declined to comment.
Late last month, Syrian air defences intercepted an Israeli missile attack also targeting Homs province in the centre of the war torn country.
The Observatory said the target was a military airport where Iranian forces are present. It is rare for Israel to claim responsibility for such strikes directly.
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The Jewish state says Iran’s presence in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad is a threat and that it will continue its strikes.
The latest attack came only hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Assad in Damascus to discuss regional developments in light of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk