A HTS fighter fires an anti-aircraft gun in Syria's Idlib province in 2019. Israel says it hit anti-aircraft batteries on Wednesday in Syria. AFP
A HTS fighter fires an anti-aircraft gun in Syria's Idlib province in 2019. Israel says it hit anti-aircraft batteries on Wednesday in Syria. AFP
A HTS fighter fires an anti-aircraft gun in Syria's Idlib province in 2019. Israel says it hit anti-aircraft batteries on Wednesday in Syria. AFP
A HTS fighter fires an anti-aircraft gun in Syria's Idlib province in 2019. Israel says it hit anti-aircraft batteries on Wednesday in Syria. AFP

Israel strikes Syria 'in response to anti-aircraft missile'


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Israel's military said it launched strikes against targets in Syria and hit anti-aircraft batteries early on Wednesday.

The strikes came in response to a missile fired from Syria.

Sirens sounded in Umm Al Fahm and Samaria after the launch, and the missile exploded in mid-air, the Israel military said on Twitter.

"In response to the anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria earlier tonight, we just struck surface-to-air missile targets in Syria, including radar and anti-aircraft batteries," another tweet said.

Syria's air defences had been activated against Israeli fire "in the vicinity of Damascus", state media said.

It said Israeli aerial attacks began shortly before 1am and were accompanied at 1.10am by surface-to-surface missile strikes "from the direction of the occupied Golan", citing a military source.

"Our aerial defences confronted the enemy's missiles and shot some of them down," Syrian news agency Sana said.

One soldier was killed and five others wounded, "along with material damage".

Israel rarely comments on air strikes it carries out in Syria, but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to extend its footprint in the country.

Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian territory, targeting government positions, as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters.

Lebanese men join ISIS to escape poverty - in pictures

  • Ghufran, 56, the mother of Zakaria Al Adl, a member of ISIS killed in Iraq, wipes her tears during an interview in her house in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabbaneh neighbourhood. Dozens of young men from Tripoli, Lebanon's poorest city, are believed to have recently joined ISIS. All photos: AFP
    Ghufran, 56, the mother of Zakaria Al Adl, a member of ISIS killed in Iraq, wipes her tears during an interview in her house in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabbaneh neighbourhood. Dozens of young men from Tripoli, Lebanon's poorest city, are believed to have recently joined ISIS. All photos: AFP
  • Lebanese men smoke water pipes as they take a break outside their workshop in an alley of Tripoli's impoverished neighbourhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh.
    Lebanese men smoke water pipes as they take a break outside their workshop in an alley of Tripoli's impoverished neighbourhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh.
  • Since August, dozens of young men have disappeared from Tripoli, which has been especially hard hit by the country's financial crash.
    Since August, dozens of young men have disappeared from Tripoli, which has been especially hard hit by the country's financial crash.
  • Mechanics repair a car in an alley in Bab al-Tabbane.
    Mechanics repair a car in an alley in Bab al-Tabbane.
  • Tripoli's neighbourhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. Even before the 2019 onset of Lebanon's financial crisis, Lebanon's second city was widely seen as a volatile militant bastion.
    Tripoli's neighbourhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. Even before the 2019 onset of Lebanon's financial crisis, Lebanon's second city was widely seen as a volatile militant bastion.
  • Ghufran, the mother of Zakaria Al Adl, a member of ISIS killed in Iraq, talks as one of her sons shows a photo of his brother during an interview in her house.
    Ghufran, the mother of Zakaria Al Adl, a member of ISIS killed in Iraq, talks as one of her sons shows a photo of his brother during an interview in her house.
  • The mother of Omar Seif, who disappeared from the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli's neighbourhood of Wadi Al Nahle, cries during an interview held weeks before she found out that Omar was killed in Iraq after joining ISIS.
    The mother of Omar Seif, who disappeared from the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli's neighbourhood of Wadi Al Nahle, cries during an interview held weeks before she found out that Omar was killed in Iraq after joining ISIS.
  • A boy works in a blacksmith's workshop in Bab al-Tabbaneh. A security official estimates that 48 young men have joined ISIS, and that the latest wave of recruits left Lebanon on January 18. Only five of the 48 have so far been accounted for.
    A boy works in a blacksmith's workshop in Bab al-Tabbaneh. A security official estimates that 48 young men have joined ISIS, and that the latest wave of recruits left Lebanon on January 18. Only five of the 48 have so far been accounted for.
  • Ghufran, the mother of Zakaria Al Adl, a member of ISIS killed in Iraq.
    Ghufran, the mother of Zakaria Al Adl, a member of ISIS killed in Iraq.
  • Tripoli's poorest neighbourhoods have been major supporters of Sunni militants responsible for attacks against the army and involved in extremist activities in Tripoli and beyond.
    Tripoli's poorest neighbourhoods have been major supporters of Sunni militants responsible for attacks against the army and involved in extremist activities in Tripoli and beyond.
  • Thousands have been detained on suspicion of terrorism links, many without trial.
    Thousands have been detained on suspicion of terrorism links, many without trial.
  • Tripoli's Baddawi neighbourhood. It is believed that financial hardship is the main reason Tripoli's young men are joining ISIS ranks. The group is luring its recruits with the promise of salaries up to $5,000 a month, an official said.
    Tripoli's Baddawi neighbourhood. It is believed that financial hardship is the main reason Tripoli's young men are joining ISIS ranks. The group is luring its recruits with the promise of salaries up to $5,000 a month, an official said.
  • Iraq's National Security Adviser Qassem Al Araji has said that Baghdad has started talks with Lebanese authorities about the ISIS threat.
    Iraq's National Security Adviser Qassem Al Araji has said that Baghdad has started talks with Lebanese authorities about the ISIS threat.
Updated: February 09, 2022, 7:55 AM