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Israel attacks Iranian forces in Syria with airstrikes
Israel launches airstrikes on Iranian forces in Syria
By Ellen Francis
Updated21 January 2019 — 11:25amfirst published at 11:00am
Beirut: Israel says it is has launched airstrikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guards special forces, Quds, inside Syria.
Israel has also issued a statement warning Syrian armed forces not to try to harm Israeli territory or forces.
Meanwhile, Syria's state news agency SANA, says its military air defences thwarted "hostile targets" on Sunday night and shot down several of them.
Earlier on Sunday, Syrian air defences repelled an Israeli attack in the south of the country, bringing down seven missiles, SANA said.
Witnesses in Damascus said loud explosions rang out in the night sky.
"We have started striking Iranian Quds targets in Syrian territory. We warn the Syrian Armed Forces against attempting to harm Israeli forces or territory," Israel's military said.
The overnight strikes followed cross-border attacks on Sunday in which Syria said it repelled an Israeli air attack. Israel said it intercepted a rocket fired at the Golan Heights.
"We have a permanent policy, to strike at the Iranian entrenchment in Syria and hurt whoever tries to hurt us," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier.
The Israeli army also said a popular winter tourist site on Mount Hermon in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights would be shut for the day. It added that otherwise things remained "routine" along the frontier with Syria.
Netanyahu last week acknowledged an Israeli attack on what he called an Iranian arms cache in Syria, where Tehran provides Damascus with vital support.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unusually frank in revealing Israel's activities in Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unusually frank in revealing Israel's activities in Syria.
Usually silent about its attacks on Iranian targets near its frontier, Israel has lifted the veil this month, a sign of confidence in a campaign waged amid occasional tensions with Syria's big-power backer Russia.
Reuters
Israel launches airstrikes on Iranian forces in Syria
By Ellen Francis
Updated21 January 2019 — 11:25amfirst published at 11:00am
Beirut: Israel says it is has launched airstrikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guards special forces, Quds, inside Syria.
Israel has also issued a statement warning Syrian armed forces not to try to harm Israeli territory or forces.
Meanwhile, Syria's state news agency SANA, says its military air defences thwarted "hostile targets" on Sunday night and shot down several of them.
Earlier on Sunday, Syrian air defences repelled an Israeli attack in the south of the country, bringing down seven missiles, SANA said.
Witnesses in Damascus said loud explosions rang out in the night sky.
"We have started striking Iranian Quds targets in Syrian territory. We warn the Syrian Armed Forces against attempting to harm Israeli forces or territory," Israel's military said.
The overnight strikes followed cross-border attacks on Sunday in which Syria said it repelled an Israeli air attack. Israel said it intercepted a rocket fired at the Golan Heights.
"We have a permanent policy, to strike at the Iranian entrenchment in Syria and hurt whoever tries to hurt us," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier.
The Israeli army also said a popular winter tourist site on Mount Hermon in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights would be shut for the day. It added that otherwise things remained "routine" along the frontier with Syria.
Netanyahu last week acknowledged an Israeli attack on what he called an Iranian arms cache in Syria, where Tehran provides Damascus with vital support.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unusually frank in revealing Israel's activities in Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unusually frank in revealing Israel's activities in Syria.
Usually silent about its attacks on Iranian targets near its frontier, Israel has lifted the veil this month, a sign of confidence in a campaign waged amid occasional tensions with Syria's big-power backer Russia.
Reuters