Syrian air defenses intercept missiles from Israel: state media

The Syrian air defenses intercepted a number of missiles from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that targeted areas around Damascus on Thursday night, state TV reported.

Sounds of explosions reverberated across the capital city overnight before the official report said the air defenses were triggered by a missile attack.

The last Israeli attack was carried out on Feb. 6, during which some military sites in the western countryside of Damascus were hit. The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 pro-Iran fighters were killed in the attack.

The strikes further highlighted the sprawling tensions between Israel and Iran in Syria. Clashes between the two countries have escalated over the past months. Israel accuses Iran of entrenching itself near the Israeli border.

Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria against Iranian targets and convoys transporting weapons to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese militia.

In 2019 alone, more than 17 Israeli attacks took place against targets in Syria.

(CGTN)