Syrian air defense forces at Mezzeh Military Airport say they engaged “hostile missiles” in the southwestern part of Damascus province late Thursday night local time, as reports of powerful explosions heard over the Syrian capital by numerous residents in the area, flooded social media.
Initial reports from Syria said the attack was believed to be targeting the Al-Kisweh area near Quneitra Governorate, according to Al-Masdar News.
Several reports claimed the air strikes were being carried out by “Israeli warplanes” or an “Israeli UAV or fighter jet,” aiming at a site belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps in western Damascus.
One report quoted Israeli military sources as saying the Israel Air Force had “no operation” on Thursday night.
: |n Air Defense Force SAM sites just fired their missiles at unidentified flying objects over , West#Damascus. |i Military sources say that Air Force had No operation tonight. It was most likely a fake target created by Electronic Warfare. pic.twitter.com/9eOtSvFDly
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee)
However, numerous other reports differed: Three missiles and one unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) were allegedly shot down by Syrian air defenses, according to Syrian activist Wael al-Russia, Sputnik reported. Syrian state media outlet SANA allegedly confirmed the downing of an “enemy target” in western Damascus.
Syrian military sources were quoted by Sputnik as saying they shot down two Israeli reconnaissance drones to the west of Damascus.
Air strikes by Israeli warplanes on a site belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the west of the Syrian capital . Αctivists confirm the sound of an explosion in the area. pic.twitter.com/CZEmYoWz58— Eva J. Koulouriotis – ايفا كولوريوتي (@evacool_)
There has been no comment from the Israeli government.