Syria 'intercepts Israeli missiles' outside Damascus

Syria 'intercepts Israeli missiles' outside Damascus
Syrian state media has said army units have intercepted Israeli missiles outside the capital Damascus, although some damage has been caused by 'military strikes'.
2 min read
02 December, 2017
Israel occupied Syria's Golan Heights region [AFP]
At least two Israeli missiles have been intercepted outside the Syrian capital, state media said on Saturday, although some military targets suffered damage from the strikes.

The surface-to-surface missiles were aimed at "military targets" to the south-west of Damascus, although Syrian air defences managed to down some of the projectiles, SANA news agency claimed.

"At half past midnight (local time, Saturday), the Israeli enemy fired several surface-to-surface missiles at a military position in Damascus province," SANA news agency reported.

"The air defences of the Syrian army were able to deal with the attack... destroying two of the missiles... [but caused] material damage".

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that "presumably" Israeli missiles had targeted "Syrian regime units and its allies" at a military base close to Kesweh, south of Damascus.

"An arms depot was destroyed," Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Observatory told AFP.

It is not clear whether the Syrian army or Iranian and Hizballah militias were targeted in the strike.

Israel is yet to comment on the reports, although its military has repeatedly targeted Hizballah positions.

It is concerned about the growing influence of arch-regional rival Iran, which has poured in thousands of militants and Revolutionary Guard troops into Syria during the country's six year war.

Tehran has helped prop up the Syrian regime with militias and officers.

Agencies contributed to this story.