Explosions heard in Damascus skies, Syria intercepts airstrikes – report

Explosions were heard in Damascus skies on Friday night, according to reports from Syria.

Syrian media claims that Syria’s air defense systems have been activated and intercepted the “hostile targets” in the capital’s skies.  The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that the targets of the attack were Syrian army bases and Iranian militias in a suburb of Damascus.

One of the strikes hit the Damascus International Airport and a small fire broke out, according to Ynet. Two flights were postponed as a result. Echoes of explosions were also heard in the coastal area of ​​Syria in the area of ​​the city of Tartus.

In the ​​southwest Damascus area, there have been a number of attacks in recent months that were attributed to Israel. For example, last week, two Israeli strikes allegedly targeted sites near the Syrian border.

The strike targeted Qurs al-Nafl in Quneitra in the southwest part of the country near the border with Israel.

Rocket fired by Iran-backed groups towards base hosting US forces in northeastern Syria, January 5, 2022 (credit: Courtesy/Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve)Last month, four Syrian soldiers were killed in another alleged Israeli airstrike on Damascus.

The areas that were targeted by Israeli airstrikes on Friday were identified with the pro-Iranian militias operating in Syria, according to Ynet. Other Arab reports state that the attack was reportedly aimed at weapons depots owned by Hezbollah.

This is a developing story.