Three dead in reported Israeli airstrikes on Syria - report

This comes as Israel and the United States have stepped up strikes on Iranian and Iran-aligned targets.

 People gather near the damaged site, that was hit by an Israeli military strike according to sources, in Damascus, Syria January 20, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/FIRAS MAKDESI)
People gather near the damaged site, that was hit by an Israeli military strike according to sources, in Damascus, Syria January 20, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/FIRAS MAKDESI)

At least three people were killed in Israeli-attributed airstrikes in Syria early Saturday, according to reports by Israeli media citing Syrian media.

The strikes were in the Dimas area, just west of Syria's capital city Damascus, and are believed to have killed "non-Syrian" individuals, according to AP.

Syrian air defenses shot down Israeli missiles launched at the Damascus countryside in the early hours of Saturday, the Syrian army said, in the second such attack in less than a day.

This comes as Israel and the United States have stepped up strikes on Iranian and Iran-aligned targets.

 Israeli reserve soldiers take part in a drill in the Golan Heights, northern Israel, December 19, 2023 (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)
Israeli reserve soldiers take part in a drill in the Golan Heights, northern Israel, December 19, 2023 (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)

Earlier attacks

The Syrian army said in a statement the air strikes were carried out from the direction of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, causing "some material losses."

On Friday, Syria said its air defenses had downed two drones in the western outskirts of Damascus during an attack also originating from the Golan Heights.

However, it refrained from explicitly attributing responsibility to Israel for that incident.