Syrian air defences fire on four Israeli missiles, shoot down one

There were three explosions in Damascus suburbs after missiles targeted ‘Syrian regime and Iranian positions’, according to UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

Syrian anti-aircraft defences on Sunday fired on Israeli missiles, shooting down one that fell outside Damascus, the official Syrian news agency Sana reported.

An Israeli army spokeswoman contacted by AFP said Israel does not comment on reports in foreign media.

Four cruise missiles were believed to have been launched across the coast through Lebanese airspace towards Syria, a source in the regional alliance supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters.

Later, the Syrian army said it brought down one of the missiles in an area near the capital. It gave no further details.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there were three explosions in the Damascus suburbs after the missiles targeted “Syrian regime and Iranian positions”.

In neighbouring Lebanon, Israeli warplanes could be heard flying in the country’s airspace at about the time of the air strikes in Syria. Damascus has said in the past that Israeli warplanes have fired missiles into Syria from Lebanon’s airspace, according to Haaretz.

Israel has launched hundreds of missiles towards Syria in recent years, targeting Iranian-backed militias operating in the country as well as supplies sent by pro-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah to support Assad’s forces.

Iran and Hezbollah are fighting on the side of Assad in the Syrian war, and Israel says they are trying to turn Syria into a new front against Israelis.

Israel has vowed to continue its strikes against Iranian targets trying to establish a permanent military presence there and against advanced weapons shipments to Hezbollah.

An Israeli strike on 20 November killed 21 pro-government fighters, including 16 foreigners and also two civilians, according to the Observatory.