Death of Two Syrian Soldiers in Israeli Missile Strike

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported, citing a military source, that an "Israeli missile attack near the capital Damascus early this Wednesday resulted in the death of two Syrian soldiers and some material losses." The source explained that "the Israeli army launched an aerial attack with barrages of missiles from the direction of the northern Golan Heights, targeting some points around Damascus, and our air defense systems intercepted the majority of the incoming missiles." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, reported that three individuals were killed. The observatory's director, Rami Abdulrahman, told the Saudi Al-Hadath TV station that "the Israeli strike killed two members of an Iran-affiliated armed group and one Syrian soldier." Israel has consistently attacked what it describes as Iran-linked targets within Syria, where Tehran's influence has increased since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the war that began in 2011.