Israel has reportedly carried out airstrikes in Southern Syria targeting Iranian militias, in its first publicised strike since September.
The attack was first reported by Dubai-based Arabic channel Al-Hadath around 10pm Damascus time. The strikes targeted the region of Al Kisweh, south of the Syrian capital, hitting Iranian militias’ targets, according to Al-Hadath's sources.
#سوريا — مصادر الحدث: الطيران الإسرائيلي يستهدف مواقع لميليشيات إيرانية جنوب سوريا
— ا لـ حـ ـد ث (@AlHadath) November 29, 2018
Syrian state media said Syrian defences has foiled the attack and continued to shoot down “enemy targets.”
Israel has denied reports, however, that one of its planes was hit by Syrian defences:
#IDF says all reports of an #Israeli plane being hit by #Syrian air defense are false. Confirms that one projectile has fallen in open territory in the #GolanHeights, still unclear if it fell on the Syrian or Israeli side
— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) November 29, 2018
The Israeli army said a missile was fired at the Golan Heights, but that it remains unclear whether the projectile fell in Israel.
"In the course of Syrian ground-to-air missile fire, (Israel's) air defences sighted a single trajectory toward an open area of the Golan Heights," it said in a statement carried by Haaretz.
"At this stage it remains unclear whether there was indeed an impact in our territory. Our forces are scouring the area."
During a Syrian surface-to-air missile launching, one launch was identified towards an open area in the Golan Heights. At this point, it remains unclear if the launch indeed landed in Israeli territory. IDF troops are searching the area.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 29, 2018
Al Kisweh has been hit by Israeli airstrikes at least twice before, with a big raid carried out last May.
In 2017, the BBC, quoting a Western intelligence source, reported the Iranian military had a compound outside Al Kisweh.
Possible #Israel strikes south of #Damascus, as #Assad regime reports activating air-defenses around al-Kiswah & "downing" multiple objects.
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) November 29, 2018
Previous #Israel-i strikes in that area hit #Iran-ian weaponry and communications. pic.twitter.com/nWkQJwvoel
The attack followed US warnings on Thursday of increased Iranian presence in Syria. Briefing Congress at the time of the attack, US Special Representative James Jeffrey told the House Foreign Affairs committee that Washington wants to see Iranian proxies leave Syria. The US is “thinking specifically of [the Lebanese group] Hezbollah” he said.
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