Israeli planes said to strike Syrian airbase near Homs, wounding 6

Six Syrian soldiers were wounded in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Tiyas, or T-4, airbase, outside of the Syrian city of Palmyra on Friday night, according to Syrian media.

The state-run SANA broadcaster said at around 9:30 p.m, Israeli warplanes launched their missiles from the direction of al-Tanf, a US outpost on the border between Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, and hit the airbase.

An official quoted by the state TV station said Syrian air defenses hit most of the incoming missiles. But he reported that six soldiers were wounded in the attack and that there was unspecified damage. There were no further details.

The airbase has been struck multiple times in recent years, allegedly by Israel.

Israeli defense officials have claimed in the past that the base is used by Iranian forces as part of the Islamic Republic’s efforts to entrench militarily in Syria, something Israel has vowed to prevent.

In February 2018, an Israeli jet was shot down in an attack on the T-4 base during a one-day skirmish with Iran-backed forces.

In April of that year, Israel attacked the base again in order to destroy a recently delivered Iranian advanced anti-aircraft system, killing at least seven members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and seven members of the Syrian army.

Israel’s military does not comment on reports of specific strikes in Syria, save for those that are in retaliation for attacks from the country.

Israel has launched hundreds of strikes against Iran-linked military targets in Syria over the years, but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.

Israel fears Iranian entrenchment on its northern frontier, and it has repeatedly struck Iran-linked facilities and weapons convoys destined for Hezbollah.

Times of Israel staff and AP contributed to this report.