Iron dome intercepts Syrian missiles following claims of attack on Damascus

The airstrike on Damascus is said to have taken place after an Iranian plane had just landed in the Syrian capital and with a second on its way.

By David Jablinowitz, World Israel News

Missiles fired towards the northern Golan Heights were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system on Sunday afternoon, the Israeli military said.

It happened just shortly after the Syrian regime had accused Israel of carrying out airstrikes in southern Damascus on Sunday morning, according to the official news agency SANA.

It said that the attack triggered Syrian air defense systems. “A military source said that our air defenses had successfully engaged an Israeli aerial attack targeting the southern region and prevented it from achieving any of its objectives,”  SANA reported.

The Israeli military refused to comment on the reported strike. It is rare for such strikes to occur during daylight hours.

Local Syrian media said that the target of the strike was in the town of al-Kiswah, south of Damascus, said to have been hit in the past, as well. Israel has cited bases near al-Kiswah as being used by pro-Iranian militias.

In Sunday’s attack, approximately 10 missiles were fired at targets in al-Kiswah, according to Syrian media. There were no immediate reports on the extent of any damage.

Social media said that the airstrike followed just hours after an Iranian cargo plane had touched down in the Damascus International Airport, based on airport flight information, and that another flight from Iran had been on its way to Syria on Sunday afternoon but “turned back right after Israeli airstrikes.”

Israel has vowed repeatedly to fight against Iran’s presence and influence in Syria.