Syria’s air defences ‘intercept barrage of Israeli missiles’

Syrian air defences have intercepted Israeli missiles over the western province of Hama, Syrian state TV said early on Friday, citing a military statement.

The “barrage of missiles” were directed from the north of the Lebanese city of Tripoli at 12:40am (22:40 GMT) on Friday, the statement said, describing the attack as an “Israeli aggression”. The rockets were aimed at the town of Masyaf in the Hama countryside, the military said.

“Our air defenses intercepted the missiles and downed most of them,” it added.

The official SANA news agency reported explosions in Masyaf.

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Shortly before the raids, Israeli warplanes were heard flying over neighbouring Lebanon, with some residents of Beirut reporting seeing missiles in the skies over the city.

Israel regularly violates Lebanese airspace and has launched hundreds of raids in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011. The attacks have hit government troops, allied Iranian forces and fighters from the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Israel rarely confirms details of its operations in Syria, but says Iran’s presence in support of President Bashar al-Assad is a threat and that it will continue its attacks.

The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported raids on Masyaf, saying Israel was “likely responsible”.

The war monitor said the attack was aimed at “positions of regime forces and Iran-backed militias,” without providing additional details.