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Israeli fighters jets launched 22 guided missiles during the May 13 attack on Syria which targeted key military research and development facilities, Oleg Zhuravlev, Deputy Head of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria, revealed on May 14.
“On May 13, between 20:25 and 20:32, six F-16 fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force launched 22 guided missiles at facilities of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) in the [town of] Masyaf and Banias Port, without entering Syrian airspace,” RIA Novosti quoted Zhuravlev as saying.
The SSRC is Syria’s main military research and development body. Israel targeted several facilities of the SSRC over the past ten years.
According to Zhuravlev, Syrian air defense systems intercepted 16 of the Israeli missiles and managed to shot down a drone.
The Israeli attack claimed the lives of three air defense servicemen and two civilian workers of the SSRC. Two soldiers were also wounded as a result of the attack along with five civilians, including a little girl.
This was the second confirmed Israeli attack on Syria in less than a week. On May 11, a series of Israeli missile and artillery strikes targeted a network of observation posts and positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the southern governorate of al-Quneitra.
Israeli attacks on Syria have claimed the lives of at least 15 service members and civilians since the beginning of the year.
The growing human losses have led to calls for revenge by many in Syria. Despite this, the SAA will not likely retaliate any time soon due the fragile economic, security and humanitarian situation in the war-torn country. Damascus have been prioritizing its internal issues since the outbreak of the war.
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