Israeli Attack Near Baniyas Concurrent with Arrival of Iranian Ships

Powerful explosions were heard late Monday into Tuesday in Latakia, northwestern Syria, amid reports of Israeli airstrikes targeting the city's port. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed hearing two explosions in northern Syria near the city of Baniyas. Israeli media reported that the Israeli airstrikes on Latakia coincided with the arrival of two Iranian ships at the port. It was also confirmed that an air defense system belonging to Iranian factions was targeted off the coast of Baniyas. Syria announced early Tuesday that it had been subjected to an Israeli air attack near the coastal city of Baniyas. According to the Syrian news agency, citing a military source, "Israel launched an air strike targeting a site around the Syrian city of Baniyas, resulting in some material losses." The source added that the attack occurred "around 00:20 after midnight on July 9-7-2024 from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea west of Baniyas, targeting one of the points in the vicinity of the city."