Israel Targets Areas in Syria with Missiles; 4 Soldiers Killed

Syrian air defenses intercepted Israeli missiles targeting the central and coastal regions of the country. The Syrian news agency reported a military source stating, "Around 6:30 AM today, the Israeli enemy executed an aerial aggression from over the Mediterranean Sea towards Baniyas, targeting some points in the central and coastal areas." The source added, "Our air defense systems intercepted the missiles of the aggression, which resulted in the martyrdom of four military personnel, the injury of another, and material losses." Last Sunday, (SANA) had announced the death of two Syrian soldiers and injury of three others in an Israeli strike on the Shea'rat base in eastern Homs province, which is one of the larger bases used by Iranian elements and Hezbollah in Syria. Last month, Syria also announced that its air defenses intercepted an Israeli missile strike targeting some points in the vicinity of Damascus. Over the past years, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria, targeting Syrian army positions, Iranian sites, and others belonging to Hezbollah. Israel rarely confirms carrying out strikes in Syria but insists it will continue to confront what it describes as Iranian attempts to entrench its military presence in Syria, which has been embroiled in conflict since 2011.