An Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jet flies during an aerial demonstration. (photo credit: AMIR COHEN – REUTERS)
Early on September 3, a series of Israeli strikes targeted the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
A source in the Syrian military told the state-run news agency that the strikes were launched from the airspace of neighboring Lebanon.
“At about 1:26 am today, the Israeli enemy carried out an air aggression from southeast of Beirut, targeting some points in the vicinity of Damascus, our defenses confronted the aggressor’s missiles and downed most of them, losses were limited to materials,” the source said.
The Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces (SyAADF) engaged a number of hostile missile, as seen in several videos shared by the SANA. However, explosions were reported on the ground.
In the last 30 minutes #Syria|n Air Defense was active over #Damascus, according to state media it was to engage “hostile attacks”. Initial unconfirmed reports from #Israel is that an Anti-aircraft missile from Syria has landed in the Mediterranean off the Israeli coast. pic.twitter.com/9NtcH68AaP
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) September 2, 2021
Footage from last night, in the Tal Region, north #Damascus, #Syria, appears to show at least two different impacts. pic.twitter.com/mUFGRy1cmu
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) September 3, 2021
One of the anti-aircraft missiles launched by the SyAADF, reportedly a Soviet-made S-200, chased Israeli warplanes deep into Israel. The missile exploded midair off the shores of the capital Tel Aviv. No losses were reported as a result of the explosion.
More shrapnel found in northern Tel Aviv
(Pics: @OriElmakayes and Kan 11) pic.twitter.com/kqzRdXnemh
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 3, 2021
In the last two months, the Israeli military struck several targets in central Syria. Many Syrian civilians, Iranian-backed fighters and service members were killed.
The recent strikes on Syria are a part of Israel’s “War-Between-Wars” military campaign, which is meant to hinder Iranian entrenchment in Syria. So far, the campaign has failed to achieve its main objective. Iran’s military presence in Syria never been stronger.
