Syria claims Israel hammered southern region

Syrian state media is reporting that Israel has bombarded the southern province of Quneitra, causing material damage but no casualties.

By Associated Press and World Israel News Staff

SANA news agency says Israeli troops fired several shells on various positions in Quneitra, including an observation post.

Last month, the Israeli military confirmed attacking Iranian military targets in Syria, hours after carrying out a rare daylight air raid near the Damascus International Airport.

The Israeli air force has targeted Iranian and Hezbollah forces in Syria in recent months while warning that it won’t tolerate their permanent military presence in the country. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel in late January over its continued attacks in Syria, saying a miscalculation could drag the region into war.

Last week, satellite images indicated that Syria had deployed Russian S-300 anti-missile launchers to try to combat Israeli air strikes.

Israei has repeatedly warned Iran that it will not tolerate military entrenchment in Syria by the Islamic Republic, which also arms and funds terror groups that threaten Israel, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.