Israel strikes targets in Syria after missile lands near nuclear reactor

World 04:58 PM - 2021-04-22

Photo Credit: AFP

A Syrian surface-to-air missile exploded in southern Israel on Thursday, the Israeli military said, in an incident that triggered warning sirens in an area near the secretive Dimona nuclear reactor.

 

“A surface-to-air missile was fired from Syria to Israel’s southern Negev,” the Israel Defense Forces tweeted.“In response, we struck the battery from which the missile was launched and additional surface-to-air batteries in Syria.”

 

Syrian state media outlet Sana said the Israeli fire came from the Golan Heights and was targeted “towards positions in the vicinity of Damascus” in the early hours of Thursday.

 

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Israeli missiles hit the air defence base of the Syrian government in the town of Dmeir—roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of Damascus.

 

The strikes destroyed air defence batteries, the Observatory said, with some casualties.

 

The Dmeir area is believed to be home to weapons depots belonging to militias loyal to Iran, it added.

 

Sana said Syrian air defence batteries successfully intercepted most of the missiles.

 

Quoting a military source, the news outlet said four soldiers were wounded and there were “some material losses”.

 

 

 

PUKmedia / France 24