Red Alert incoming rocket sirens were activated in the wee hours of Wednesday after an alleged Israeli strike on military targets near Damascus, Syria.
Rocket sirens were triggered in the Arab Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm as well as in the Samaria region.
“Following the report of the activation of a [rocket] warning, the launch of an [anti-aircraft] missile was identified from Syrian territory in the direction of Israeli territory. The missile exploded in the air and no interception was required,” the IDF said in a statement.
בהמשך לדיווח על הפעלת התרעה, זוהה שיגור טיל נגד מטוסים משטח סוריה לעבר שטח ישראל. הטיל התפוצץ באוויר ובהיעדר צורך לא בוצע יירוט בפועל
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) February 8, 2022
“Air defenses are confronting hostile targets in the sky of the capital,” Syrian state media reported. At least one air strike was allegedly aimed at the Mezzah area of Damascus, where regime military bases are located. Several blasts were heard by residents in the area, along with the sound of ambulances, according to multiple reports.
Shrapnel from missiles reportedly fell in Qudsaya, #Syria during Israeli airstrikes in the Damascus area. Material damage was caused by the shrapnel. pic.twitter.com/ApFGntTppQ
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) February 8, 2022
Syrian military forces launched anti-aircraft missiles from the S-200 SAM anti-missile defense battery provided by Russia, but failed to hit Israeli aircraft.
According to analyst Eva J. Koulouriotis, local sources in Syria said one of the targets of the Israeli strikes was in the vicinity of Jamraya, northwest of Damascus — “an area previously targeted for containing a scientific research center and weapons depots.”
Iran is continuing its efforts to funnel advanced weaponry to its Lebanese proxy, the Hezbollah terrorist organization, via Damascus International Airport and the Port of Latakia.
Both sites have been targeted repeatedly by Israel Air Force fighter pilots in an effort to prevent the arms from reaching Hezbollah.
