Israeli midnight strikes in Syria kill 6 fighters
Sat, Dec 26 2020 09:59:43 AM
Damascus, Dec 26 (IANS): A total of six pro-government fighters were killed during an Israeli airstrike that targeted positions in central Syriat, according to a war monitor .
The Israeli missile strike on Friday targeted the defence factories where a scientific research centre is located in the city of Masyaf in Hama province, Xinhua news agency quoted the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying in a statement.
The Bwatchdog group said the strike destroyed weapon depots run by Iranian fighters.
For its side, the Syrian army said its air defences had intercepted most of the Israeli missiles that were fired on Masyaf.
Israel has been accused of and has previously confirmed using airstrikes in the war-torn nation. Israel has previously said airstrikes were necessary to protect themselves from Hezbollah.
Syrian air defences have intercepted Israeli missiles over the western province of Hama, Syrian state TV said early on Friday, citing a military statement.
The “barrage of missiles” were directed from the north of the Lebanese city of Tripoli at 12:40am (22:40 GMT) on Friday, the statement said, describing the attack as an “Israeli aggression”. The rockets were aimed at the town of Masyaf in the Hama countryside, the military said.
“Our air defenses intercepted the missiles and downed most of them,” it added.
The official SANA news agency reported explosions in Masyaf.
There was no immediate comment from Israel.
Shortly before the raids, Israeli warplanes were heard flying over neighbouring Lebanon, with some residents of Beirut reporting seeing missiles in the skies over the city.