Israeli Strike Hits Iran-Backed Hezbollah Outpost Near Russia's Main Military Base In Syria

Israel jet temp illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/IDF Spokesperson's Unit/Amit Agronov/)

JAKARTA - Israel launched a series of strikes against Iranian-linked targets on Sunday near the ancestral home of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as well as Russia's main military base in the country, according to regional intelligence reports and Syrian military sources.

The Syrian army said three soldiers were killed and three wounded in two simultaneous Israeli raids in the southern province of Tartous, as well as another in the capital Damascus. however, the physical location is not stated.

The strikes on the northeastern outskirts of Damascus hit outposts run by the pro-Iran Hezbollah group, said two Syrian military defectors familiar with the region.

A Syrian army officer in the coastal region of Tartous told Reuters on condition of anonymity that an Iranian base near the village of Abu Afsa, south of the port city was targeted in addition to a nearby air defense and radar station.

Israel is known to have carried out hundreds of strikes against alleged Iranian targets in recent years, but has largely avoided hitting the coastal provinces, where Russia's main military assets are concentrated.

The latest attack is part of an escalation of the low-intensity conflict, the aim of which is to slow the growth of the Iranian stronghold in Syria, say Israeli and regional military experts.

The attack was close to Russia's only naval base in the Mediterranean, Port of Tartous, where Russian warships dock, while Moscow's main Hmeimim air base is also near Latakia province.

Russia's intervention with Iran helped turn the tide in favor of President Assad, in a conflict that has lasted more than a decade.

Russian forces in Syria 'usually' turn a blind eye to Israeli air strikes, to Iran-sponsored arms deployments and transfers.

But tensions with Russia have escalated, with Israel's condemnation of the Ukraine war and surveillance of Jewish emigration agents.

Israel last month said its military jets came under Russian anti-aircraft fire over Syria last May, but they were not hit, describing the confrontation as a "one-off incident.

Meanwhile, Syria blamed Israel for a major attack on its main international airport in Damascus last June, which damaged the runway and forced a flight halt for several weeks.

Israeli defense officials say the civilian airport has been used regularly by Iran to transport weapons and militias.