Syria: Israel attacks military post on outskirts of Damascus
Syrian army says Israeli aircraft fired several missiles from Lebanese airspace, with the Syrian air defense system destroying most of them, warns Israel of 'dangerous consequences for its repeated, aggressive and uncalculated adventures.'
Israel reportedly attacked a Syrian military post on the outskirts of Damascus early Wednesday, the Syrian army said, adding its air defense system destroyed most of the Israeli missiles.
The Syrian army said Israeli fighter jets fired a number of rockets from Lebanese airspace at 3:42am, targeting an army position.
The Syrian air defense system responded to "new aggression by Israel," according to a report on Syrian state media.
"The general command of the armed forces holds Israel fully responsible for the dangerous consequences for its repeated, aggressive and uncalculated adventures," the army statement said, without giving any details of damage or casualties.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the missiles targeted "positions of the Syrian army and its allies" in the region of Jamraya, west of Damascus, which was attacked in the past.
Israel has been waging a campaign in recent years to prevent the transfer of advanced arms from Iran through Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as to stop Tehran from establishing a military presence in Syria.
Israeli aircraft have reportedly carried out nearly 100 attacks in Syria, targeting weapons convoys and depots. Israel confirmed some of these reports.
Wednesday's report was the second such accusation in less than a month. Syria's military on January 9 accused Israel of launching missiles targeting military outposts in the area of Qutayfeh, in the Damascus countryside. The military said that attack caused material damage.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the Security Cabinet toured the Syrian border on the Golan Heights on Tuesday. "We desire peace, but remain prepared for any scenario, and I don't propose to anyone to test that resolve," Netanyahu said at the tour's conclusion.
Last week, Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Syria, telling his Russian ally that Israel would not hesitate to attack to prevent Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria.
“We are now on the cusp of a watershed moment of whether Iran will entrench itself there or if the process will be stopped. I told Putin that if it isn’t stopped by itself, we will act to stop it. In practice, we’re already operating,” Netanyahu told journalists after the meeting.
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Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
