Israel Launches Missile Attack On Syria, Almost Hit Russian Air Base

Illustration of an air raid deterrent. (Wikimedia Commons / Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - Syrian air defense systems managed to shoot down several Israeli missiles in a series of pre-dawn airstrikes on the Mediterranean port city of Latakia. In a statement, the Syrian army said the airstrikes, which took place from 2 a.m., hit several areas along the southwestern coast of Latakia.

One civilian was killed while six others were injured in one of the attacks that the Syrian military said hit a civilian plastic factory in Latakia city.

"Our air defenses intercepted the attacking missiles and dropped some of them", the Syrian military said.

State media previously reported Israeli attacks also hit the city of Hifa, east of the port city of Latakia, and Misyaf in Hama province. However, there has been no comment in the Israeli military regarding this attack.

Iranian Wikimedia missile illustration. (Commons / Hawijpolo)

Although Israeli strikes in recent years have targeted large parts of Syria, they rarely strike Latakia which is close to Russia's main airbase, Hmeimim.

A senior military defector said the Israeli offensive hit several areas in the city of Jabla in northwestern Latakia province, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al Assad's Alawi minority sect that dominates the army and security forces.

Assad comes from Qerdaha, a village in the Alawite Mountains 28 km (17 miles) southeast of Latakia, where his father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, is buried.

Israel has stepped up in recent months its so-called 'shadow war' against Iran-linked targets inside Syria, according to Western intelligence sources, who said the strikes primarily targeted research centers for weapons development, ammunition depots, and military convoys moving missiles from Syria to Lebanon.

Iranian proxy militias led by Lebanon's Hezbollah now control large areas of eastern, southern, and northwestern Syria, as well as several suburbs around Damascus. They also control the Lebanon-Syria border area.

Israel says its goal is to end Tehran's military presence in Syria, which Western intelligence sources say has grown in recent years.

In addition, Israel sent a senior delegation to Washington last week to discuss Iran with US counterparts. The White House said the Allies agreed to the "significant threat" posed by Iran's regional behavior.

Israel has also highlighted the new nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers it judges, saying the war against Iran is certain

Meanwhile, the indirect talks between the US envoy and Iran in Vienna were overshadowed by mutual sabotage between Israel and Iran, as well as the explosion at the Iranian Natanz nuclear facility which was blamed on Israel.