Syrian air defenses targets projectiles fired from Israel - report

Residents in Damascus said they heard several loud blasts shortly before the television news bulletin that reported the incident.

By REUTERS, ANNA AHRONHEIM
What is believed to be guided missiles are seen in the sky during what is reported to be an attack in Damascus, Syria, January 21, 2019, in this still image taken from a video obtained from social media (photo credit: FACEBOOK DIARY OF A MORTAR SHELL IN DAMASCUS/YOUMIYAT QADIFAT HAWUN FI DAMASHQ/VIA REUTERS)
What is believed to be guided missiles are seen in the sky during what is reported to be an attack in Damascus, Syria, January 21, 2019, in this still image taken from a video obtained from social media
(photo credit: FACEBOOK DIARY OF A MORTAR SHELL IN DAMASCUS/YOUMIYAT QADIFAT HAWUN FI DAMASHQ/VIA REUTERS)

Syrian state media accused Israel of launching a strike against targets outside Damascus Saturday night and claimed the country’s air defenses intercepted a number of missiles, the second time in less than 24 hours.

The reports of additional airstrikes came a day after the regime accused the Jewish State of striking targets outside the capital on Friday night.
Aerial defenses detected hostile targets coming from the direction of Quneitra and intercepted them,” a military source was quoted as saying on Friday.
The state television channel showed footage of the night sky with a point of light firing up into it and the sound of shooting, and reported that air defenses had brought down some objects. It did not immediately report casualties or material damage.
 

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According to pro-opposition reports, the strikes targeted the First Division HQ of the Syrian Army near al-Kiswe, south of Damascus.
Other local reports said that the strikes targeted Iranian arms depots.
Israeli officials have repeatedly voiced concerns over Iran’s entrenchment in Syria and the smuggling of sophisticated weaponry to Hezbollah from Tehran to Lebanon via Syria, stressing that both are red-lines for the Jewish State.
In an effort to prevent sophisticated weaponry from reaching Hezbollah, Israel frequently carries out airstrikes against Iran and its allies in Syria. In January Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel has a set policy of preventing Iran's entrenchment in Syria. 
In April Israeli planes targeted a military position near the province of Hama in Syria, but Syrian air defenses intercepted and downed some of the rockets, Syrian state television reported.