Syrian State TV: ‘Israeli Aggression’ Attacking Central Region

Syrian state television reported about an hour after midnight Thursday night into Friday that the country’s air defenses confronted an “aerial aggression” (reference to Israel) over the Masyaf area in Hama province in central Syria.

One of the targets was probably the Scientific Research Center near the city of Masyaf, according to Middle East news Eva J. Koulouriotis. “Masyaf area is an important military area for both the Assad regime and the Iranian Quds Force,” she wrote on Twitter, “as it contains a scientific research center and Fajr 5 missile depots, in addition to an Iranian missile development center.”

“Blasts were heard in the coastal city of Tartous in northern Syria,” according to a Syrian source on Twitter. “Syrian air defenses reportedly opened fire and shot down several missiles launched by Israeli warplanes targeting Masyaf,” the source tweeted.

This is not the first time Masyaf has been targeted by Israel, in part due to the placement of Russian S-300 aerial anti-missile defense batteries in the area.

#BREAKING: At-least six F-16D/Is of #Israel Air Force targeted factories which produce Ballistic missile parts for #Syria’s Ballistic Missile Production facilities in #Safita, #Tartous. They used Delilah cruise missiles which the #Syria Air Defense Force tried to shoot-down. pic.twitter.com/wcDBaq1ere

— Babak Taghvaee – The Air War (@TheAirWar) December 24, 2020
“No immediate word on casualties. Israel has in the past used Lebanon’s airspace to launch attacks on Syria,” the source added.

#BREAKING: Watch a 57E6-E interceptor missile launched by a Pantsir S1E of #Syria Air Defense Force getting self-destruct after failing to hit a Delilah cruise missile launched by the #Israeli F-16D/Is at #Safita’s outskirt, #Tartus. pic.twitter.com/t4oeEKp1LT

— Babak Taghvaee – The Air War (@TheAirWar) December 24, 2020
“Israeli jets causing a great amount of noise in Beirut, Lebanon – residents in panic,” a second source tweeted.

No word yet on injured or dead, if any. There has been no announcement from the Israeli government, nor from the Israel Defense Forces, in accordance with Israeli policy.