Five Syrian soldiers were killed in Israeli attacks near Damascus airport on Saturday (September 17), Syrian state-run news agency Sana reported. “The attack resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and material damage,” Sana said, citing a military source. The projectiles came “from the northeast of Lake Tiberias and targeted the airport and points south of Damascus” around 00:45 (21:45 GMT Friday), the source added.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack killed two Iran-backed militants along with five Syrian soldiers. According to this organization, which draws on an extensive network of sources in Syria, Israel has targeted locations where Tehran-backed fighters are stationed near Damascus airport and in the surrounding countryside.
hundreds of attacks
Last month, three soldiers were killed in Israeli attacks near Damascus and in the southern coastal province of Tartous. The Jewish state has also twice attacked Aleppo Airport in the north of the country in the past month. And in June, more strikes had shut down Damascus airport for nearly two weeks. Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, Israel has launched hundreds of attacks on its neighbor, targeting government troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah allies.
Israel rarely confirms individual attacks but has admitted to carrying out hundreds. The Jewish state justifies them with the need to prevent its Iranian enemy from strengthening on its borders.