Syria struck twice within hours in alleged Israeli airstrikes

Syrian air defenses were activated in the Damascus area during the strikes.

A streak of light is seen in the night sky in the vicinity of the Syrian capital Damascus during what Syrian authorities said was an Israeli air strike, in this handout released by state news agency SANA on February 24, 2020. (photo credit: SANA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
A streak of light is seen in the night sky in the vicinity of the Syrian capital Damascus during what Syrian authorities said was an Israeli air strike, in this handout released by state news agency SANA on February 24, 2020.
(photo credit: SANA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Alleged Israeli airstrikes targeted sites in southern Syria and near Damascus on Thursday night in two separate waves, according to Syrian reports.

Syria's state news agency SANA reported that Israeli fighter jets conducted airstrikes from over the Golan Heights targeting sites in southern Syria, causing material damage.

The local Suwayda 24 news site reported that a radar site belonging to the Syrian Army at Tal al-Sahn, not far from the Syrian-Jordanian border, was targeted and destroyed in the airstrikes. No injuries were reported in the strike.

Syrian air defenses were activated in the Damascus area as well during the strikes, although it is as of yet unclear what locations in the Damascus area were targeted.

An Israeli Air Force F-35 fighter jet flies during an aerial demonstration at a graduation ceremony for Israeli air force pilots  (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
An Israeli Air Force F-35 fighter jet flies during an aerial demonstration at a graduation ceremony for Israeli air force pilots (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

The Tal al-Sahn site has been targeted repeatedly in the past by alleged Israeli airstrikes.

A few hours after the first wave of airstrikes, a second wave of airstrikes was reported in the Damascus area, with Syrian air defenses activated in response.

SANA reported that the second airstrikes were conducted from over Lebanon and targeted several sites near Damascus, causing material damage.

According to the Syrian Capital Voice news site, all the sites targeted were sites holding air defense systems.

Recent alleged Israeli airstrikes in Syria

The airstrikes come just days after Razi Mousavi, a senior officer in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike in the Damascus area. Mousavi served as one of the leaders of Iran's efforts in Syria and had been targeted by Israel in the past, according to Iranian media.

The airstrikes also come just a day after the Damascus International Airport returned to service after being put out of service by an alleged Israeli airstrike in late November.